Randy Green's Blog, page 464
October 9, 2012
Opposites and Equivalents – Part 5
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit [Titus 3:5].
Now let us move on to the second major teaching in our Bible verse. Let’s read the pertinent words of the verse together:
He saved us…according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
Yes, the Lord saved us (grace). We don’t and cannot save ourselves (Law). Having said that, the Apostle Paul explained what this entailed. We learn this from the final part of the verse, beginning with the word “by”. God’s salvation entails two aspects, both of which are needed if we are to be truly saved. The two aspects are,
1. washing of regeneration
2. renewing by the Holy Spirit
To decipher the two aspects, we need to stay aware of what it is we are saved from. We are saved from a life of sin. We are saved from the sin nature inside each sinner. We are saved from being sinners.
Ergo, the Lord has to do two things, if He is to be successful in saving us. First, He has to get rid of the sin. Otherwise we have to die as the penalty for our sins, and that is the opposite of being saved.
But that alone won’t save us. No sooner are our sins removed than we are back in the pigsty committing more sins. To enable sinful man to live righteously, sinful man first needs a righteous life. So the Lord crucifies the old life of slavery to sin, but then He perfectly completes our salvation by giving us the new life of the Holy Spirit. And I can promise you, the Holy Spirit does live righteously!
When we wash our hands, we remove the dirt from them. When the Lord gives us His “washing of regeneration”, He removes the sin from us. After doing so, the Lord completes the salvation by giving us His Holy Spirit to live inside us.
This topic deserves much more of our attention. Indeed, it is exciting to delve into it! Accordingly we will pause and spend time alone with Jesus now, and return to the topic tomorrow to give it further attention.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Now let us move on to the second major teaching in our Bible verse. Let’s read the pertinent words of the verse together:
He saved us…according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
Yes, the Lord saved us (grace). We don’t and cannot save ourselves (Law). Having said that, the Apostle Paul explained what this entailed. We learn this from the final part of the verse, beginning with the word “by”. God’s salvation entails two aspects, both of which are needed if we are to be truly saved. The two aspects are,
1. washing of regeneration
2. renewing by the Holy Spirit
To decipher the two aspects, we need to stay aware of what it is we are saved from. We are saved from a life of sin. We are saved from the sin nature inside each sinner. We are saved from being sinners.
Ergo, the Lord has to do two things, if He is to be successful in saving us. First, He has to get rid of the sin. Otherwise we have to die as the penalty for our sins, and that is the opposite of being saved.
But that alone won’t save us. No sooner are our sins removed than we are back in the pigsty committing more sins. To enable sinful man to live righteously, sinful man first needs a righteous life. So the Lord crucifies the old life of slavery to sin, but then He perfectly completes our salvation by giving us the new life of the Holy Spirit. And I can promise you, the Holy Spirit does live righteously!
When we wash our hands, we remove the dirt from them. When the Lord gives us His “washing of regeneration”, He removes the sin from us. After doing so, the Lord completes the salvation by giving us His Holy Spirit to live inside us.
This topic deserves much more of our attention. Indeed, it is exciting to delve into it! Accordingly we will pause and spend time alone with Jesus now, and return to the topic tomorrow to give it further attention.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
October 8, 2012
Opposites and Equivalents – Part 4
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit [Titus 3:5].
When they obeyed obeyed a set of rules, a list of dos and don’ts, the Israelites outwardly recognized the fact that they were sinners. But inwardly, in the heart, they were good old boys and girls. God certainly must be pleased with them because He chose them and not the Gentiles! Intellectually, you see, they acknowledged they weren’t perfect. But what the hey. Nobody’s perfect! Right?
The prophet Isaiah portrayed this fact of the Law, that it was given to the Israelites because they were spiritually immature and couldn’t as yet handle grace:
To whom would He teach knowledge, and to whom would He interpret the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast? For He says, “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line, a little here, a little there.” [Isaiah 28:9-10]
Such a flippant attitude betrayed their true heart condition. If they hadn’t such a heart condition, then the Law wouldn’t have been necessary. They could have begun and ended with grace and bypassed the Law altogether.
Hence the writer to the Hebrews declared that the Lord had no pleasure in the outward performance of religion. He gave it to the Israelites, yes. But that was to teach them their need for a new heart, not to engage them in religious exercises for the sake of religious exercise.
The writer to the Hebrews noted that the Lord had no pleasure in the works of the Law. This wasn’t because the works of the Law were evil. The Lord Himself gave the Law to the Israelites. Another reason was behind the words of the writer to the Hebrews. Let’s determine what the reason was.
The Law said, “Do these religious exercises and you will live.” The problem wasn’t in the Law. The problem was in the Israelites. They were sinners and sinners sin, not live righteously, which is what keeping the Law would have amounted to. Compare the phrase, “deeds which we have done in righteousness”. The deeds were righteous because the Lord commanded them. Their source made obedience to the works of the Law righteous.
Grace, on the other hand, says, “Receive a righteous life freely, i.e., by God’s grace. Then you can do righteous things.” See! Sinners cannot do righteous things and earn a righteous life thereby. A righteous life is first needed in order to do righteous things.
Ergo, the Law was given to show the Israelites that they weren’t able to live righteously. They needed a Savior to remove their sins and given them a righteous life in place of their sin nature. Only then would they be able to do righteous things.
This concludes our study for today. We have chewed on much which can stand some more masticating. Let’s do so now in the presence of Jesus, as the Holy Spirit teaches us.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
When they obeyed obeyed a set of rules, a list of dos and don’ts, the Israelites outwardly recognized the fact that they were sinners. But inwardly, in the heart, they were good old boys and girls. God certainly must be pleased with them because He chose them and not the Gentiles! Intellectually, you see, they acknowledged they weren’t perfect. But what the hey. Nobody’s perfect! Right?
The prophet Isaiah portrayed this fact of the Law, that it was given to the Israelites because they were spiritually immature and couldn’t as yet handle grace:
To whom would He teach knowledge, and to whom would He interpret the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast? For He says, “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line, a little here, a little there.” [Isaiah 28:9-10]
Such a flippant attitude betrayed their true heart condition. If they hadn’t such a heart condition, then the Law wouldn’t have been necessary. They could have begun and ended with grace and bypassed the Law altogether.
Hence the writer to the Hebrews declared that the Lord had no pleasure in the outward performance of religion. He gave it to the Israelites, yes. But that was to teach them their need for a new heart, not to engage them in religious exercises for the sake of religious exercise.
The writer to the Hebrews noted that the Lord had no pleasure in the works of the Law. This wasn’t because the works of the Law were evil. The Lord Himself gave the Law to the Israelites. Another reason was behind the words of the writer to the Hebrews. Let’s determine what the reason was.
The Law said, “Do these religious exercises and you will live.” The problem wasn’t in the Law. The problem was in the Israelites. They were sinners and sinners sin, not live righteously, which is what keeping the Law would have amounted to. Compare the phrase, “deeds which we have done in righteousness”. The deeds were righteous because the Lord commanded them. Their source made obedience to the works of the Law righteous.
Grace, on the other hand, says, “Receive a righteous life freely, i.e., by God’s grace. Then you can do righteous things.” See! Sinners cannot do righteous things and earn a righteous life thereby. A righteous life is first needed in order to do righteous things.
Ergo, the Law was given to show the Israelites that they weren’t able to live righteously. They needed a Savior to remove their sins and given them a righteous life in place of their sin nature. Only then would they be able to do righteous things.
This concludes our study for today. We have chewed on much which can stand some more masticating. Let’s do so now in the presence of Jesus, as the Holy Spirit teaches us.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
October 7, 2012
Opposites and Equivalents – Part 3
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit [Titus 3:5].
Yes, there are many significant differences between the North and South Poles, between the Arctic and the Antarctic. On the spiritual plane an even more significant difference exists, one in which man’s eternal fate is weighed in the balance. We learn of this difference in the Bible verse quoted above.
The subject is “salvation” (cf., “he saved us”). The contrast is between the Covenant of Law and the Covenant of Grace. Law is denoted by the words “not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness”. Grace, contrariwise, is brought into the spotlight by the words “but according to his mercy”.
Those two, viz., Law and grace, are polar opposites, dear friends. Both were given by God, but only one is God’s will for sinful man. The Scriptures teach us the same thing:
After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, “ Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second [Hebrews 10:8-9].
The point made by the writer to the Hebrews is that God gave the Law to Israel, but He didn’t have any pleasure in the works of the Law.
Someone is nonplused and blurts out, “Huh? That does not compute! Why would God give Israel a legal code which He wasn’t pleased with?”
I heard you say it with my own ears, so don’t try to deny it. When the writer to the Hebrews notes that God wasn’t pleased with the Law, he isn’t denigrating the Law. The Law is good when it is used according to the purpose for which God gave it. The Law is given to sinners to show them they are sinners, not to save them.
And therein lies the crux of the matter. God didn’t want the Israelites to be sinners. Even less did He want them to be sinners and yet be clueless that they were sinners! If the Israelites recognized their sins and were repentant vis-à-vis those sins, then the Law would not have been needed.
But the Israelites weren’t, so they needed the Law to teach them that they were indeed sinners. In this context we recognize what the writer to the Hebrews meant—or rather what the Holy Spirit taught by those words He inspired the writer to pen.
Every time animals were offered on the bronze altar as substitutes for the Israelites, it was one more example of the Israelites’ lack of awareness of their sins. Yes, they did acknowledge their sins by means of offering those animal sacrifices. But no, they didn’t recognize in their hearts that they were sinners.
Oops! We are out of time again. In our next study we will continue vetting this subject. For now let us enter the prayer closet and come apart with Jesus a while.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Yes, there are many significant differences between the North and South Poles, between the Arctic and the Antarctic. On the spiritual plane an even more significant difference exists, one in which man’s eternal fate is weighed in the balance. We learn of this difference in the Bible verse quoted above.
The subject is “salvation” (cf., “he saved us”). The contrast is between the Covenant of Law and the Covenant of Grace. Law is denoted by the words “not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness”. Grace, contrariwise, is brought into the spotlight by the words “but according to his mercy”.
Those two, viz., Law and grace, are polar opposites, dear friends. Both were given by God, but only one is God’s will for sinful man. The Scriptures teach us the same thing:
After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, “ Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second [Hebrews 10:8-9].
The point made by the writer to the Hebrews is that God gave the Law to Israel, but He didn’t have any pleasure in the works of the Law.
Someone is nonplused and blurts out, “Huh? That does not compute! Why would God give Israel a legal code which He wasn’t pleased with?”
I heard you say it with my own ears, so don’t try to deny it. When the writer to the Hebrews notes that God wasn’t pleased with the Law, he isn’t denigrating the Law. The Law is good when it is used according to the purpose for which God gave it. The Law is given to sinners to show them they are sinners, not to save them.
And therein lies the crux of the matter. God didn’t want the Israelites to be sinners. Even less did He want them to be sinners and yet be clueless that they were sinners! If the Israelites recognized their sins and were repentant vis-à-vis those sins, then the Law would not have been needed.
But the Israelites weren’t, so they needed the Law to teach them that they were indeed sinners. In this context we recognize what the writer to the Hebrews meant—or rather what the Holy Spirit taught by those words He inspired the writer to pen.
Every time animals were offered on the bronze altar as substitutes for the Israelites, it was one more example of the Israelites’ lack of awareness of their sins. Yes, they did acknowledge their sins by means of offering those animal sacrifices. But no, they didn’t recognize in their hearts that they were sinners.
Oops! We are out of time again. In our next study we will continue vetting this subject. For now let us enter the prayer closet and come apart with Jesus a while.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
October 6, 2012
Opposites and Equivalents – Part 2
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit [Titus 3:5].
In our last study we noted two different understandings of the significance of December 25 in contemporary USA. It may surprise you, but we are not really going to converse on the subject of Biblical versus cultural issues. Instead let us now consider the subject of the South Pole, or rather, of the differences between the North and South Poles.
There are many. For one thing, did you know that the South Pole has a significantly colder mean temperature than the North Pole does? The South Pole’s average temp is -56, while the North’s is -29. For you fair weather folks, that’s a lot of difference!
Another notable difference is the thickness of the ice between the two places. The North Pole’s ice sheet grows to about 12-15 feet thick in the winter. The South Pole’s ice sheet is roughly 9,000 feet thick, or 3 miles! Not a minor discrepancy, is it?
Another quaint difference between the two is that the North Pole is noted for its polar bears, while the South Pole has for its tourist attraction…penguins. Let’s see. On the one hand we have polar bears, on the other penguins. And the twain shall never meet because, if they did, the penguins would soon be extinct. Polar bears would have them over for supper, you see.
Still one more distinction has to do with energy. An estimated one-fourth of all untapped oil resources exist in the Artic region. In contrast the amount of oil in the Antarctic is…goose egg.
And then there is the difference in population. More than four million folks inhabit the Artic. Do you know how many call the Antarctic home? That would be zero! The Antarctic is the only place on earth where no one has a claim to the real estate.
There are many other significant differences between the Arctic and the Antarctic, dear friends. I have spent considerable time presenting some of these differences for a purpose. I trust you are familiar with the phrase “polar opposites”.
Well, what do you think is the origin of the phrase? As Maxwell Smart was fond of saying, “Would you believe…?” Yes, would you believe it stems from the vast differences between the North Pole and the South?
There is a distinction in our Bible verse which is just as notable as the distinction between the two poles. We might say that this distinction portrays polar opposites. Indeed, on the spiritual plane the distinction is far more pronounced, seeing how eternity is weighed in the balance. On the one hand we have time on earth, on the other time in eternity.
In our next study we will examine this distinction a bit. Hope to see you there. Don’t miss out! And don’t miss out on a chance to be with Jesus right now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
In our last study we noted two different understandings of the significance of December 25 in contemporary USA. It may surprise you, but we are not really going to converse on the subject of Biblical versus cultural issues. Instead let us now consider the subject of the South Pole, or rather, of the differences between the North and South Poles.
There are many. For one thing, did you know that the South Pole has a significantly colder mean temperature than the North Pole does? The South Pole’s average temp is -56, while the North’s is -29. For you fair weather folks, that’s a lot of difference!
Another notable difference is the thickness of the ice between the two places. The North Pole’s ice sheet grows to about 12-15 feet thick in the winter. The South Pole’s ice sheet is roughly 9,000 feet thick, or 3 miles! Not a minor discrepancy, is it?
Another quaint difference between the two is that the North Pole is noted for its polar bears, while the South Pole has for its tourist attraction…penguins. Let’s see. On the one hand we have polar bears, on the other penguins. And the twain shall never meet because, if they did, the penguins would soon be extinct. Polar bears would have them over for supper, you see.
Still one more distinction has to do with energy. An estimated one-fourth of all untapped oil resources exist in the Artic region. In contrast the amount of oil in the Antarctic is…goose egg.
And then there is the difference in population. More than four million folks inhabit the Artic. Do you know how many call the Antarctic home? That would be zero! The Antarctic is the only place on earth where no one has a claim to the real estate.
There are many other significant differences between the Arctic and the Antarctic, dear friends. I have spent considerable time presenting some of these differences for a purpose. I trust you are familiar with the phrase “polar opposites”.
Well, what do you think is the origin of the phrase? As Maxwell Smart was fond of saying, “Would you believe…?” Yes, would you believe it stems from the vast differences between the North Pole and the South?
There is a distinction in our Bible verse which is just as notable as the distinction between the two poles. We might say that this distinction portrays polar opposites. Indeed, on the spiritual plane the distinction is far more pronounced, seeing how eternity is weighed in the balance. On the one hand we have time on earth, on the other time in eternity.
In our next study we will examine this distinction a bit. Hope to see you there. Don’t miss out! And don’t miss out on a chance to be with Jesus right now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
October 5, 2012
Opposites and Equivalents – Part 1
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit [Titus 3:5].
If we ask a variety of people the significance of December 25, we will likely receive a variety of answers. Some would immediately point to the day being Christmas, the birthday of Jesus.
Though the depiction of Jesus’ birth in the Bible isn’t conducive for a winter day in the Middle East—which is what December 25 is there—still, historically it was suitable for converting a pagan celebration of nature into a Christian event. In that way, it was reasoned by human thinking, we can stop the pagans from worshiping their pagan gods on their December 25 celebration and worship Jesus instead.
Trouble is, pagans don’t worship Jesus. They worship pagan gods! And if said pagans were to be born again, then they would no longer want to worship the pagan gods on December 25. So the whole scheme amounted to an exercise in futility. Paganism wasn’t affected positively by the machination, but Christianity was certainly diluted in the process.
Notwithstanding this historical reality, the result has long since been finalized and no longer has anything to do with worshiping pagan gods versus worshiping Jesus. I didn’t bring the issue up as a prelude to declaiming an anti-Christmas diatribe. We are conversing about different responses to the query about the significance of December 25 on our calendar.
Another response would be that December 25 is Christmas, and that is when Santa Claus comes to town. According to this understanding, a certain Saint Nicklaus (aka Santa Claus) lives at the North Pole. He keeps company with an entire work force of elves, who make toys for little girls and boys all year long.
While they are doing this, Santa is busy snooping on the same little girls and boys. He keeps a minutely detailed list of their lives—must be similar to the Lord’s books, which will be opened at the Great White Throne judgment—noting just who has been naughty and who has been nice. The nice girls and boys get the gifts, the naughty ones not so much.
Well, come the night of December 24 and Santa boards his flying sleigh, which is fueled by a nine-reindeer-powered engine. Santa calls each reindeer by name, as they soar through the sky to deliver the toys to the good little girls and boys. Santa’s voice rings through the crisp atmosphere with a melodic charm,
Ho! Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. Lead the way, faithful Rudolph, with your red nosed headlight!
And there we have two different answers about the significance of December 25 in contemporary USA. But let us take our leave of good ol’ Saint Nick at this time. The shadows are lengthening and the light is dissipating. We must betake ourselves to Jesus for a time of fellowship, and meet back here tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
If we ask a variety of people the significance of December 25, we will likely receive a variety of answers. Some would immediately point to the day being Christmas, the birthday of Jesus.
Though the depiction of Jesus’ birth in the Bible isn’t conducive for a winter day in the Middle East—which is what December 25 is there—still, historically it was suitable for converting a pagan celebration of nature into a Christian event. In that way, it was reasoned by human thinking, we can stop the pagans from worshiping their pagan gods on their December 25 celebration and worship Jesus instead.
Trouble is, pagans don’t worship Jesus. They worship pagan gods! And if said pagans were to be born again, then they would no longer want to worship the pagan gods on December 25. So the whole scheme amounted to an exercise in futility. Paganism wasn’t affected positively by the machination, but Christianity was certainly diluted in the process.
Notwithstanding this historical reality, the result has long since been finalized and no longer has anything to do with worshiping pagan gods versus worshiping Jesus. I didn’t bring the issue up as a prelude to declaiming an anti-Christmas diatribe. We are conversing about different responses to the query about the significance of December 25 on our calendar.
Another response would be that December 25 is Christmas, and that is when Santa Claus comes to town. According to this understanding, a certain Saint Nicklaus (aka Santa Claus) lives at the North Pole. He keeps company with an entire work force of elves, who make toys for little girls and boys all year long.
While they are doing this, Santa is busy snooping on the same little girls and boys. He keeps a minutely detailed list of their lives—must be similar to the Lord’s books, which will be opened at the Great White Throne judgment—noting just who has been naughty and who has been nice. The nice girls and boys get the gifts, the naughty ones not so much.
Well, come the night of December 24 and Santa boards his flying sleigh, which is fueled by a nine-reindeer-powered engine. Santa calls each reindeer by name, as they soar through the sky to deliver the toys to the good little girls and boys. Santa’s voice rings through the crisp atmosphere with a melodic charm,
Ho! Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. Lead the way, faithful Rudolph, with your red nosed headlight!
And there we have two different answers about the significance of December 25 in contemporary USA. But let us take our leave of good ol’ Saint Nick at this time. The shadows are lengthening and the light is dissipating. We must betake ourselves to Jesus for a time of fellowship, and meet back here tomorrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
October 4, 2012
What is Spiritual Warfare? – Part 6
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf [Ephesians 6:18-19].
We learned how to put on “the full armor of God” in our last study. And that brings us to our second question: What actually is spiritual warfare?
To answer this question, we need only consider how we answered the first one. We put on “the full armor of God” by grace through faith. We read the Bible to learn what God tells us. We believe in both the head and the heart what He tells us. And we then obey by doing what He tells us.
To understand what spiritual warfare actually is, we need to read the Bible to see what He tells us. Then we need to believe in both the head and the heart what He tells us about spiritual warfare. And we then need to obey what He tells us.
Read once more the two Bible verses quoted to start this study. In three short lines we have five references to actual spiritual warfare. Take note of five words,
1. prayer
2. petition
3. pray
4. petition
5. pray
That, my friends, is the essence of spiritual warfare. Straightway after itemizing the five pieces of armor in “the full armor of God”, Paul penned those two verses. In other words he instructed Christians to put on the five pieces of armor, and then to go to prayer. The football players were to put on their football gear, and then go play football. The Christian is to put on “the full armor of God”, and then go fight spiritual warfare by praying.
We Christians today need to stop watching the football game on the TV and then fancying ourselves to be Hall of Fame players. We need to stop reading about spiritual warfare in the Bible and then fancying ourselves to be Hall of Faith saints. We cannot be football players apart from playing the game of football. We cannot be spiritual warriors apart from fighting spiritual warfare.
So what say ye? Most folks aren’t cut out to be football players, just as most folks aren’t cut out to be brain surgeons or rocket scientists. But those are natural abilities. If the Lord doesn’t give us those natural abilities, we aren’t going to be able to practice them.
This doesn’t apply in the spiritual realm, however, dear people. Yes, there are different ministries, and there are different spiritual gifts to perform those various minstries. And yes, the Holy Spirit gives each Christian the spiritual gift(s) He wants him to have. But no, this has nothing to do with fighting spiritual warfare.
No spiritual gift is unique to being a spiritual warrior. Prayer is the prerogative of each and every Christian, no exceptions. Every Christian is called by God to the ministry of fighting spiritual warfare. It is up to each Christian to decide whether or not he will obey the Word of God. Will you?
Lord Jesus, make it so in my life and in the lives of all Your people. Revive us, dear Savior, that we may be used by You to revive the world. In Jesus name.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We learned how to put on “the full armor of God” in our last study. And that brings us to our second question: What actually is spiritual warfare?
To answer this question, we need only consider how we answered the first one. We put on “the full armor of God” by grace through faith. We read the Bible to learn what God tells us. We believe in both the head and the heart what He tells us. And we then obey by doing what He tells us.
To understand what spiritual warfare actually is, we need to read the Bible to see what He tells us. Then we need to believe in both the head and the heart what He tells us about spiritual warfare. And we then need to obey what He tells us.
Read once more the two Bible verses quoted to start this study. In three short lines we have five references to actual spiritual warfare. Take note of five words,
1. prayer
2. petition
3. pray
4. petition
5. pray
That, my friends, is the essence of spiritual warfare. Straightway after itemizing the five pieces of armor in “the full armor of God”, Paul penned those two verses. In other words he instructed Christians to put on the five pieces of armor, and then to go to prayer. The football players were to put on their football gear, and then go play football. The Christian is to put on “the full armor of God”, and then go fight spiritual warfare by praying.
We Christians today need to stop watching the football game on the TV and then fancying ourselves to be Hall of Fame players. We need to stop reading about spiritual warfare in the Bible and then fancying ourselves to be Hall of Faith saints. We cannot be football players apart from playing the game of football. We cannot be spiritual warriors apart from fighting spiritual warfare.
So what say ye? Most folks aren’t cut out to be football players, just as most folks aren’t cut out to be brain surgeons or rocket scientists. But those are natural abilities. If the Lord doesn’t give us those natural abilities, we aren’t going to be able to practice them.
This doesn’t apply in the spiritual realm, however, dear people. Yes, there are different ministries, and there are different spiritual gifts to perform those various minstries. And yes, the Holy Spirit gives each Christian the spiritual gift(s) He wants him to have. But no, this has nothing to do with fighting spiritual warfare.
No spiritual gift is unique to being a spiritual warrior. Prayer is the prerogative of each and every Christian, no exceptions. Every Christian is called by God to the ministry of fighting spiritual warfare. It is up to each Christian to decide whether or not he will obey the Word of God. Will you?
Lord Jesus, make it so in my life and in the lives of all Your people. Revive us, dear Savior, that we may be used by You to revive the world. In Jesus name.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
October 3, 2012
What is Spiritual Warfare? – Part 5
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf [Ephesians 6:18-19].
In our last study we concluded that two problems exist with Christians and spiritual warfare. We also concluded that the two problems raise two questions which demand answers.
The two problems are:
1. no armor is put on, despite belief to the contrary
2. no fighting is done, after the armor is supposedly put on
The two questions raised are:
1. How are we to put on “the full armor of God”?
2. What actually is spiritual warfare?
In our prior studies as we went through each piece of armor, I noted that each one is directly related to the Word of God. I hope you remember this vital fact. The Word of God is indispensable to a person being being born again, and it is just as indispensable for living as a born again person. This is because salvation—both being born again (justification) and living the new life (sanctification)—is by grace through faith.
Faith comes from hearing the Word of God (cf., Romans 10:17). Whereas faith is required to please God (cf., Hebrews 11:6), we cannot live for Him, we cannot be His disciples and serve Him, and we cannot conduct spiritual warfare on His behalf, apart from faith. And once more, faith comes from hearing the Word of God.
If we would serve God in any capacity—and spiritual warfare is definitely included in this—we have to hear His Word, believe it, and then obey it. Biblical belief (aka faith) is much more than intellectual understanding. It begins with understanding by the mind, but it moves the understanding down into the heart as well, so that our understanding is both intellectual and spiritual.
We have to love God for real, not just understand facts about Him and want to do things for Him to please Him. Our hearts must belong to Him. When that is the case, we don’t find reading His words to us to be a grievous chore. It is a delight to hear from Him! No one in love considers it a grievous chore to be with his sweetie!
So we put on “the full armor of God” by grace through faith. God gives it to us freely. We don’t earn it and we don’t deserve it. It’s His gift to us, i.e., grace. We believe His Word that this is so, believe it both in the head and in the heart, i.e., faith. And we want to put it on so as to serve Him as He instructs us to do so.
Oh no. Not again. We are out of time. And I was just getting warmed up too. Oh well. We will conclude this study on the morrow. Jesus awaits us now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
In our last study we concluded that two problems exist with Christians and spiritual warfare. We also concluded that the two problems raise two questions which demand answers.
The two problems are:
1. no armor is put on, despite belief to the contrary
2. no fighting is done, after the armor is supposedly put on
The two questions raised are:
1. How are we to put on “the full armor of God”?
2. What actually is spiritual warfare?
In our prior studies as we went through each piece of armor, I noted that each one is directly related to the Word of God. I hope you remember this vital fact. The Word of God is indispensable to a person being being born again, and it is just as indispensable for living as a born again person. This is because salvation—both being born again (justification) and living the new life (sanctification)—is by grace through faith.
Faith comes from hearing the Word of God (cf., Romans 10:17). Whereas faith is required to please God (cf., Hebrews 11:6), we cannot live for Him, we cannot be His disciples and serve Him, and we cannot conduct spiritual warfare on His behalf, apart from faith. And once more, faith comes from hearing the Word of God.
If we would serve God in any capacity—and spiritual warfare is definitely included in this—we have to hear His Word, believe it, and then obey it. Biblical belief (aka faith) is much more than intellectual understanding. It begins with understanding by the mind, but it moves the understanding down into the heart as well, so that our understanding is both intellectual and spiritual.
We have to love God for real, not just understand facts about Him and want to do things for Him to please Him. Our hearts must belong to Him. When that is the case, we don’t find reading His words to us to be a grievous chore. It is a delight to hear from Him! No one in love considers it a grievous chore to be with his sweetie!
So we put on “the full armor of God” by grace through faith. God gives it to us freely. We don’t earn it and we don’t deserve it. It’s His gift to us, i.e., grace. We believe His Word that this is so, believe it both in the head and in the heart, i.e., faith. And we want to put it on so as to serve Him as He instructs us to do so.
Oh no. Not again. We are out of time. And I was just getting warmed up too. Oh well. We will conclude this study on the morrow. Jesus awaits us now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
October 2, 2012
What is Spiritual Warfare? – Part 4
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf [Ephesians 6:18-19].
Christians today as a whole don’t read the Bible. What reading they do is simply intellectual. Spiritual reality doesn’t often enter the picture. So they read Ephesians 6 and learn the six pieces which comprise “the full armor of God”. Because they know these facts in their mind, you see, they believe they have conducted spiritual warfare!
To them spiritual warfare consists of “the full armor of God”. They are like the football players and coaches in our story. The game of football consists of the gear! So they fancy themselves bedecked in “the full armor of God” just because intellectually they have memorized the six pieces of armor.
Truth be told, they haven’t put on even one piece of the armor! We Christians are saved by grace through faith. We live the same way, by grace through faith. We serve as disciples of Christ in the same way, by grace through faith. We conduct spiritual warfare in the same way, by grace through faith.
Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ (cf., Romans 10:17). Since we aren’t much reading it, where be the faith?! It isn’t. It is nowhere. We might have it as per justification, but it is pretty much nonexistent in terms of sanctification. We might be born again, but we are still lying in the spiritual baby crib and sipping milk from the nipple.
That is one issue which contributes to the lack of spiritual warfare being conducted today. It isn’t enough to know in the head about “the full armor of God”. We must then actually put the armor on. This is a spiritual exercise, not an intellectual one.
Another fundamental flaw involved in this scenario is even more embarrassing to the cause of Christ. The “full armor of God” is not equivalent to spiritual warfare, any more than football gear is equivalent to the football game.
He is a certifiable dunce, the football player who gets outfitted for the football game, and then leaves because he believes the game to be over! So too is it with the Christian who considers himself to be outfitted in “the full armor of God”, and so he has conducted spiritual warfare.
Yikes! The football player simply prepared to play football: he didn’t actually play it. The Christian in this case simply prepared to go to spiritual war: he didn’t actually do any of the fighting.
So the problem is twofold:
1. no armor is put on, despite belief to the contrary
2. no fighting is done, after the armor is supposedly put on
This raises two obvious questions:
1. How are we to put on “the full armor of God”?
2. What actually is spiritual warfare?
And right fine questions they are too. We will attempt an answer to the both of them in our next study. Let’s hie off to the prayer closet at this time and savor the presence of our blessed Lord.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Christians today as a whole don’t read the Bible. What reading they do is simply intellectual. Spiritual reality doesn’t often enter the picture. So they read Ephesians 6 and learn the six pieces which comprise “the full armor of God”. Because they know these facts in their mind, you see, they believe they have conducted spiritual warfare!
To them spiritual warfare consists of “the full armor of God”. They are like the football players and coaches in our story. The game of football consists of the gear! So they fancy themselves bedecked in “the full armor of God” just because intellectually they have memorized the six pieces of armor.
Truth be told, they haven’t put on even one piece of the armor! We Christians are saved by grace through faith. We live the same way, by grace through faith. We serve as disciples of Christ in the same way, by grace through faith. We conduct spiritual warfare in the same way, by grace through faith.
Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ (cf., Romans 10:17). Since we aren’t much reading it, where be the faith?! It isn’t. It is nowhere. We might have it as per justification, but it is pretty much nonexistent in terms of sanctification. We might be born again, but we are still lying in the spiritual baby crib and sipping milk from the nipple.
That is one issue which contributes to the lack of spiritual warfare being conducted today. It isn’t enough to know in the head about “the full armor of God”. We must then actually put the armor on. This is a spiritual exercise, not an intellectual one.
Another fundamental flaw involved in this scenario is even more embarrassing to the cause of Christ. The “full armor of God” is not equivalent to spiritual warfare, any more than football gear is equivalent to the football game.
He is a certifiable dunce, the football player who gets outfitted for the football game, and then leaves because he believes the game to be over! So too is it with the Christian who considers himself to be outfitted in “the full armor of God”, and so he has conducted spiritual warfare.
Yikes! The football player simply prepared to play football: he didn’t actually play it. The Christian in this case simply prepared to go to spiritual war: he didn’t actually do any of the fighting.
So the problem is twofold:
1. no armor is put on, despite belief to the contrary
2. no fighting is done, after the armor is supposedly put on
This raises two obvious questions:
1. How are we to put on “the full armor of God”?
2. What actually is spiritual warfare?
And right fine questions they are too. We will attempt an answer to the both of them in our next study. Let’s hie off to the prayer closet at this time and savor the presence of our blessed Lord.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
October 1, 2012
What is Spiritual Warfare? – Part 3
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf [Ephesians 6:18-19].
So how can Christians with regularity don “the full armor of God” and then go home, thinking themselves to have won the spiritual war before they even took to the battlefield? The idea is preposterous, granted, but its origin makes it understandable…though still just as wrong.
The wrong behavior stems from a wrong understanding of what spiritual warfare consists. Christians today, like people in general, are not much given to reading, including reading the Bible. This is a shame, nay, it is a sin. We are neglecting the Word of our Lord. We are ignoring His orders. We are indifferent to His love letters. We are unfaithful as His Bride, the Church.
Instead of serving our purpose as new creations in Christ Jesus, instead of being salt and light in the acrid darkness which is the world, instead of transforming the world, we are conformed to the world. We fit right in with the devil’s kids!
But the Lord has this strange notion known as the “doctrine of separation”. He has nothing to do with sin, so He doesn’t get personal with sinners…and He expects His kids to behave the same way. We are not to conform to the world and its way of thinking. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind to think like our Lord does.
This can only come via the Bible, but we aren’t reading it! Small wonder that we don’t transform the world, when we ourselves are not transformed first. We cannot give anyone what we don’t have. We cannot lead anyone where we don’t go.
Church make-believe may be comfortable, but it isn’t new life. So long as we are busy enjoying the things of the world like we do, we will never have time to read the Bible either…or the desire to read it. In which case we will remain conformed to the world and be the same old sinners living the same old life of sin. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Consequently Christians have a penchant when reading the Bible—or reading verses and chapters in the Bible—to read only on an intellectual level. No person can feed on the Bible as real spiritual food, unless he truly wants to lose his life for the sake of attaining new life. If we’re content with the things of the world and our share in them, we aren’t ready to listen to the voice of Jesus and surrender to His leading.
Ergo, Christians read Ephesians 6 and observe the six pieces in “the full armor of God”. They are pleased with themselves that they know the facts of spiritual warfare because they can rattle off all six pieces without taking a breath. They know spiritual warfare, you see.
We will continue this topic in our next study. For now sit at the feet of Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to impress these truths on your mind and heart.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
So how can Christians with regularity don “the full armor of God” and then go home, thinking themselves to have won the spiritual war before they even took to the battlefield? The idea is preposterous, granted, but its origin makes it understandable…though still just as wrong.
The wrong behavior stems from a wrong understanding of what spiritual warfare consists. Christians today, like people in general, are not much given to reading, including reading the Bible. This is a shame, nay, it is a sin. We are neglecting the Word of our Lord. We are ignoring His orders. We are indifferent to His love letters. We are unfaithful as His Bride, the Church.
Instead of serving our purpose as new creations in Christ Jesus, instead of being salt and light in the acrid darkness which is the world, instead of transforming the world, we are conformed to the world. We fit right in with the devil’s kids!
But the Lord has this strange notion known as the “doctrine of separation”. He has nothing to do with sin, so He doesn’t get personal with sinners…and He expects His kids to behave the same way. We are not to conform to the world and its way of thinking. We are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind to think like our Lord does.
This can only come via the Bible, but we aren’t reading it! Small wonder that we don’t transform the world, when we ourselves are not transformed first. We cannot give anyone what we don’t have. We cannot lead anyone where we don’t go.
Church make-believe may be comfortable, but it isn’t new life. So long as we are busy enjoying the things of the world like we do, we will never have time to read the Bible either…or the desire to read it. In which case we will remain conformed to the world and be the same old sinners living the same old life of sin. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Consequently Christians have a penchant when reading the Bible—or reading verses and chapters in the Bible—to read only on an intellectual level. No person can feed on the Bible as real spiritual food, unless he truly wants to lose his life for the sake of attaining new life. If we’re content with the things of the world and our share in them, we aren’t ready to listen to the voice of Jesus and surrender to His leading.
Ergo, Christians read Ephesians 6 and observe the six pieces in “the full armor of God”. They are pleased with themselves that they know the facts of spiritual warfare because they can rattle off all six pieces without taking a breath. They know spiritual warfare, you see.
We will continue this topic in our next study. For now sit at the feet of Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to impress these truths on your mind and heart.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
September 30, 2012
What is Spiritual Warfare? – Part 2
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf [Ephesians 6:18-19].
As Maxwell Smart would say, “The old fly on the wall trick, eh?” As a fly on the wall you witnessed the football team get dressed and geared up for the big game. And then they congratulated themselves for winning the game, changed into their civvies, and took their wives to supper!
You think to yourself,
You gotta be kiddin’ me! Why didn’t they actually play the game? How could they think they won the game already, when they didn’t even leave the locker room? What a bunch of yokels!
And right you would be too. Yokels beyond a doubt. It is so preposterous, it could never happen. Right? Uh, that would be a no, my friends. Let me tell you about the San Sippio team of the 1930s.
Gotcha! There was no San Sippio team, not in the 1930s or any other time. I just made it up. But the funny thing is—no, scratch that—the sad thing is the exact same scenario occurs every day on the part of many teams and players. No, they aren’t football players and teams, but they are players and teams in the Lord’s army.
We’ve just concluded our disquisition of “the full armor of God”. We vetted each of the six pieces of armor afforded the Christian by His Lord, for conducting spiritual warfare on behalf of the Great King. I trust you now have a handle on this material.
Many a serious-minded saint has studied the six pieces of armor with all diligence. He understands the intricacies of each and every piece. He has every good intention of serving His Lord fully. So he dons all six pieces one at a time, giving due consideration to the significance of each piece.
He becomes enthralled by the intellectual implications, as he mulls over the subject in deep meditation. The good Lord Jesus is so kind and thoughtful to provide such splendid resources for conducting the spiritual warfare he assigns his soldiers. He knows no other commander-in-chief who can match the care and concern which his commander-in-chief has for His own.
His heart goes out to Jesus and he is determined to serve His King to his full potential. Jesus will be proud of him when he is done! He will hear His Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.” He will settle for nothing less, and he will commit himself wholeheartedly in love to accomplish that goal on behalf of His King.
Wow! He’s had a good go of it, hasn’t he? So he pats himself on the back, removes the armor, disrobes and dresses in his civvies, and goes home. The war is over. He won!
No doubt you are reasoning about now, “Huh? That doesn’t make any sense!”
And you would be right. Let’s try to comprehend how such a scene can occur with frequency. We will do so in our next study. See you then. Enjoy time with Christ Jesus now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
As Maxwell Smart would say, “The old fly on the wall trick, eh?” As a fly on the wall you witnessed the football team get dressed and geared up for the big game. And then they congratulated themselves for winning the game, changed into their civvies, and took their wives to supper!
You think to yourself,
You gotta be kiddin’ me! Why didn’t they actually play the game? How could they think they won the game already, when they didn’t even leave the locker room? What a bunch of yokels!
And right you would be too. Yokels beyond a doubt. It is so preposterous, it could never happen. Right? Uh, that would be a no, my friends. Let me tell you about the San Sippio team of the 1930s.
Gotcha! There was no San Sippio team, not in the 1930s or any other time. I just made it up. But the funny thing is—no, scratch that—the sad thing is the exact same scenario occurs every day on the part of many teams and players. No, they aren’t football players and teams, but they are players and teams in the Lord’s army.
We’ve just concluded our disquisition of “the full armor of God”. We vetted each of the six pieces of armor afforded the Christian by His Lord, for conducting spiritual warfare on behalf of the Great King. I trust you now have a handle on this material.
Many a serious-minded saint has studied the six pieces of armor with all diligence. He understands the intricacies of each and every piece. He has every good intention of serving His Lord fully. So he dons all six pieces one at a time, giving due consideration to the significance of each piece.
He becomes enthralled by the intellectual implications, as he mulls over the subject in deep meditation. The good Lord Jesus is so kind and thoughtful to provide such splendid resources for conducting the spiritual warfare he assigns his soldiers. He knows no other commander-in-chief who can match the care and concern which his commander-in-chief has for His own.
His heart goes out to Jesus and he is determined to serve His King to his full potential. Jesus will be proud of him when he is done! He will hear His Master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Master.” He will settle for nothing less, and he will commit himself wholeheartedly in love to accomplish that goal on behalf of His King.
Wow! He’s had a good go of it, hasn’t he? So he pats himself on the back, removes the armor, disrobes and dresses in his civvies, and goes home. The war is over. He won!
No doubt you are reasoning about now, “Huh? That doesn’t make any sense!”
And you would be right. Let’s try to comprehend how such a scene can occur with frequency. We will do so in our next study. See you then. Enjoy time with Christ Jesus now.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
