Randy Green's Blog, page 465
September 29, 2012
What is Spiritual Warfare? – Part 1
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].
Imagine being a fly on the wall in the locker room of your favorite football team. It is game day. The atmosphere is electric. All of your favorite players are there, and some not so favorites too. The head coach and all his assistants are present as well.
There is the quarterback, fitting himself with his various pieces of football paraphernalia. You see him pulling the shoulder pads over his head, and then the drawstrings are tightened to fix it securely in place. The wide receivers are in the same proximity, donning their pieces of equipment too…and the running backs and tight ends.
Oh, let us not leave out of the equation those big uglies of the offensive line. On the field those five starters and their backups function as a single entity, so it is not surprising to see them hanging together off the field and doing the same.
The center chats with his quarterback, and then turns to his mates who make up the line to relay the quarterback’s thoughts to them. The two tackles and two guards nod their heads in agreement and go back to fraternizing about what they’re going to have for supper after the game.
The left guard and left tackle assist each other in getting their pieces of equipment adjustment and fastened securely. The right guard and tackle do likewise. The center aids the quarterback as he gets his equipment on, and the quarterback reciprocates with the center.
The defense is assembled on the other end of the locker room doing the same ritual. And the special teams aces mirror the same scenario. Finally everyone is dressed and properly equipped in their football paraphernalia.
Now it is time for the head coach to take over and do his thing. He congratulates the team for their fine performance on that game day. He considers them to have won the game hands down, no competition. They are the man! To them go the spoils of war. He instructs the team, “Go home and take the wives out to celebrate. You guys earned it.” And then he dismisses them with his blessings.
Remember, you are a fly on the wall…and about that time you fall off the wall! You are beside yourself with befuddlement.
What is wrong with the head coach? And why don’t his assistants take his spiked coffee away from him? He’s had enough! For that matter, why don’t the players laugh at his antics? Go home? You guys won the game hands down? Whatever is the problem with the coach’s brain today?
Then you get trampled on by all the players and coaches, as they make their way out the locker room door to go home. Serves you right for being a fly on the wall! Nobody likes flies.
Think this scenario is a bit wacky? Well, we’ll see even wackier things in our next study. Don’t miss it! And don’t miss time with Jesus now either.
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...
Imagine being a fly on the wall in the locker room of your favorite football team. It is game day. The atmosphere is electric. All of your favorite players are there, and some not so favorites too. The head coach and all his assistants are present as well.
There is the quarterback, fitting himself with his various pieces of football paraphernalia. You see him pulling the shoulder pads over his head, and then the drawstrings are tightened to fix it securely in place. The wide receivers are in the same proximity, donning their pieces of equipment too…and the running backs and tight ends.
Oh, let us not leave out of the equation those big uglies of the offensive line. On the field those five starters and their backups function as a single entity, so it is not surprising to see them hanging together off the field and doing the same.
The center chats with his quarterback, and then turns to his mates who make up the line to relay the quarterback’s thoughts to them. The two tackles and two guards nod their heads in agreement and go back to fraternizing about what they’re going to have for supper after the game.
The left guard and left tackle assist each other in getting their pieces of equipment adjustment and fastened securely. The right guard and tackle do likewise. The center aids the quarterback as he gets his equipment on, and the quarterback reciprocates with the center.
The defense is assembled on the other end of the locker room doing the same ritual. And the special teams aces mirror the same scenario. Finally everyone is dressed and properly equipped in their football paraphernalia.
Now it is time for the head coach to take over and do his thing. He congratulates the team for their fine performance on that game day. He considers them to have won the game hands down, no competition. They are the man! To them go the spoils of war. He instructs the team, “Go home and take the wives out to celebrate. You guys earned it.” And then he dismisses them with his blessings.
Remember, you are a fly on the wall…and about that time you fall off the wall! You are beside yourself with befuddlement.
What is wrong with the head coach? And why don’t his assistants take his spiked coffee away from him? He’s had enough! For that matter, why don’t the players laugh at his antics? Go home? You guys won the game hands down? Whatever is the problem with the coach’s brain today?
Then you get trampled on by all the players and coaches, as they make their way out the locker room door to go home. Serves you right for being a fly on the wall! Nobody likes flies.
Think this scenario is a bit wacky? Well, we’ll see even wackier things in our next study. Don’t miss it! And don’t miss time with Jesus now either.
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 28, 2012
The Sword of Damocles - Part 4
And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God [Ephesians 6:17].
“The sword of the Spirit” is defined as “the Word of God”. When the Christian engages in spiritual warfare, the Holy Spirit brings to mind the Word of God. We refute Satan’s vicious accusations by standing on the Word of God. We attack Satan’s strongholds by standing on the Word of God. Our sword in the battle is “the Word of God”.
The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you [John 14:25].
As we’ve assayed each of the six pieces in “the full armor of God”, we learned that each one is related in some way to “the Word of God”. In the case of the sixth piece of armor, namely “the sword of the Spirit”, it is stated to be “the Word of God” itself.
Let’s employ a numbered list to itemize the six pieces of armor:
1. the belt of truth
2. the breastplate of righteousness
3. the shoes of peace
4. the shield of faith
5. the helmet of salvation
6. the sword of the Spirit
The Lord Jesus is the living Word of God, and He identified Himself as the truth (cf., John 14:6). The Bible is the written Word of God, and Jesus identified it as the truth (cf., John 17:17).
We learn the truth about “righteousness” and “peace”, “faith” and “salvation”, from the Bible, as the Holy Spirit guides us into all the truth (cf., John 16:13).
We overcome the devil’s accusations about our righteousness by recalling from Scripture that we are “the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus”, not our own righteousness.
We don’t succumb to doubt and despair because we recall from Scripture that we have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. Consequently we enjoy “the peace of God which passes all understanding”.
We ward off all the vicious attacks of those demon hoards by remembering how we are “saved by grace through faith”. Ergo, we stand by faith in the Word of God to us.
We know that Satan is a liar and that our salvation is real and complete, by recalling the teaching to that effect in the Scriptures. Consequently, Satan’s lies peter out and the flames die down, when the fire extinguisher of faith sprays it and the truth of our salvation stands up under his attacks.
Our foundation is the Rock, you see, not the shifting sand of man’s words and opinions and doctrinal assertions. We are founded on the living Word of God, Jesus Christ, and we come to know Him and understand His achievements on our behalf by means of the Word of God as the Holy Spirit teaches it to us. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lord, we give you thanks for “the full of armor of God”. Help us to put it on and wear it at all times, for our adversary, the devil, is on the prowl at all times.
As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me…neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water [Nehemiah 4:18, 23].
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...
“The sword of the Spirit” is defined as “the Word of God”. When the Christian engages in spiritual warfare, the Holy Spirit brings to mind the Word of God. We refute Satan’s vicious accusations by standing on the Word of God. We attack Satan’s strongholds by standing on the Word of God. Our sword in the battle is “the Word of God”.
The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you [John 14:25].
As we’ve assayed each of the six pieces in “the full armor of God”, we learned that each one is related in some way to “the Word of God”. In the case of the sixth piece of armor, namely “the sword of the Spirit”, it is stated to be “the Word of God” itself.
Let’s employ a numbered list to itemize the six pieces of armor:
1. the belt of truth
2. the breastplate of righteousness
3. the shoes of peace
4. the shield of faith
5. the helmet of salvation
6. the sword of the Spirit
The Lord Jesus is the living Word of God, and He identified Himself as the truth (cf., John 14:6). The Bible is the written Word of God, and Jesus identified it as the truth (cf., John 17:17).
We learn the truth about “righteousness” and “peace”, “faith” and “salvation”, from the Bible, as the Holy Spirit guides us into all the truth (cf., John 16:13).
We overcome the devil’s accusations about our righteousness by recalling from Scripture that we are “the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus”, not our own righteousness.
We don’t succumb to doubt and despair because we recall from Scripture that we have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. Consequently we enjoy “the peace of God which passes all understanding”.
We ward off all the vicious attacks of those demon hoards by remembering how we are “saved by grace through faith”. Ergo, we stand by faith in the Word of God to us.
We know that Satan is a liar and that our salvation is real and complete, by recalling the teaching to that effect in the Scriptures. Consequently, Satan’s lies peter out and the flames die down, when the fire extinguisher of faith sprays it and the truth of our salvation stands up under his attacks.
Our foundation is the Rock, you see, not the shifting sand of man’s words and opinions and doctrinal assertions. We are founded on the living Word of God, Jesus Christ, and we come to know Him and understand His achievements on our behalf by means of the Word of God as the Holy Spirit teaches it to us. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lord, we give you thanks for “the full of armor of God”. Help us to put it on and wear it at all times, for our adversary, the devil, is on the prowl at all times.
As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me…neither I, my brothers, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us removed our clothes, each took his weapon even to the water [Nehemiah 4:18, 23].
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 27, 2012
The Sword of Damocles - Part 3
And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God [Ephesians 6:17].
Some preachers emphasize the Bible at the expense of the Holy Spirit. Others emphasize the Holy Spirit to the detriment of the Bible. On the one hand some leave off with the Holy Spirit, while asserting doctrines under the guise of being the Bible. On the other hand some leave off with the Bible, while asserting that the Holy Spirit teaches them new revelations apart from the Bible. One side belittles the Holy Spirit, the other side belittles the Bible.
Egads, man! What is your problem?! It isn’t an either/or. It is a both/and. It is both the Bible and the Holy Spirit. As Paul under inspiration of the Holy Spirit teaches, the Holy Spirit employs the Bible on both offense and defense during spiritual warfare. The Holy Spirit’s sword is the Word of God.
If a well-meaning brother claims that a viewpoint is the Word of God, I want to know from him where it is located in the Bible. If he cannot find it, he needs to sit down and be quiet and learn, until he can show such a viewpoint from the Bible. He first needs to adequately know his Bible before he attempts to teach it.
In the same vein should a brother claim his viewpoint is the Word of God, and when I ask him to show me where it is in the Bible, he counters by asserting how the Holy Spirit told it to him—well, he too needs to sit down and be quiet and learn, until he can show his viewpoint from the Bible.
The Apostle Paul distinctly tells us as much, when he defines “the sword of the Spirit” as being “the Word of God”. The Holy Spirit brings to our mind the teaching of Scripture. We stand on the Word of God, understanding that the Holy Spirit teaches it to us rather than we understand it by our natural abilities alone.
But the Holy Spirit doesn’t shout new revelations from heaven. He gave us the written Word of God to serve that purpose. We defend against Satan’s attacks by quoting the Word of God, as Jesus did when He was tempted. We go on the offensive and attack the gates of hell in the same way. “The sword of the Spirit” is “the Word of God”, not new revelations revealed out of the clear blue or from the supercilious flesh inside the Christian.
We must betake ourselves to the prayer closet at this time. We will pick up in our next study where we are leaving off in this one. Praise the Lord Jesus!
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...
Some preachers emphasize the Bible at the expense of the Holy Spirit. Others emphasize the Holy Spirit to the detriment of the Bible. On the one hand some leave off with the Holy Spirit, while asserting doctrines under the guise of being the Bible. On the other hand some leave off with the Bible, while asserting that the Holy Spirit teaches them new revelations apart from the Bible. One side belittles the Holy Spirit, the other side belittles the Bible.
Egads, man! What is your problem?! It isn’t an either/or. It is a both/and. It is both the Bible and the Holy Spirit. As Paul under inspiration of the Holy Spirit teaches, the Holy Spirit employs the Bible on both offense and defense during spiritual warfare. The Holy Spirit’s sword is the Word of God.
If a well-meaning brother claims that a viewpoint is the Word of God, I want to know from him where it is located in the Bible. If he cannot find it, he needs to sit down and be quiet and learn, until he can show such a viewpoint from the Bible. He first needs to adequately know his Bible before he attempts to teach it.
In the same vein should a brother claim his viewpoint is the Word of God, and when I ask him to show me where it is in the Bible, he counters by asserting how the Holy Spirit told it to him—well, he too needs to sit down and be quiet and learn, until he can show his viewpoint from the Bible.
The Apostle Paul distinctly tells us as much, when he defines “the sword of the Spirit” as being “the Word of God”. The Holy Spirit brings to our mind the teaching of Scripture. We stand on the Word of God, understanding that the Holy Spirit teaches it to us rather than we understand it by our natural abilities alone.
But the Holy Spirit doesn’t shout new revelations from heaven. He gave us the written Word of God to serve that purpose. We defend against Satan’s attacks by quoting the Word of God, as Jesus did when He was tempted. We go on the offensive and attack the gates of hell in the same way. “The sword of the Spirit” is “the Word of God”, not new revelations revealed out of the clear blue or from the supercilious flesh inside the Christian.
We must betake ourselves to the prayer closet at this time. We will pick up in our next study where we are leaving off in this one. Praise the Lord Jesus!
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 26, 2012
The Sword of Damocles - Part 2
And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God [Ephesians 6:17].
Damocles wanted to live like King Dionysius, so Dionysius obliged. He had Damocles outfitted in kingly garb and bedecked with jewelry. He sat him at the table and served him a gourmet meal. Damocles ate until it came out of his ears, before he even noticed the catch, this oddity in the room. There above his head, right where he was seated at the banqueting table, was a sword suspended by a single horse hair, dangling over the crown of his head.
Damocles nearly toppled over in his chair, frightened out of his wits. “What is that doing there?” he blurted out to King Dionysius.
Dionysius stared him straight in the eye and soberly explained, “You wanted to know what the life of a king is like, didn’t you? Well, now you not only know its pleasures but also its precariousness. And I see by your reaction that you don’t much relish the life.”
All of this was too much for Damocles. He fled the life of the court fawner and returned to real life as he once knew it, nevermore to be seen or heard anywhere near the throne room.
From this tale of ancient mythology has come the adage, “the sword of Damocles”. It refers to a situation which potentially brings with it harm or catastrophe, an imminent peril which looms on the horizon.
In our Bible verse today we have the sixth and final piece in “the full armor of God”. Paul phrases this piece of armor as “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”. There is a gourmet’s meal in those words, dear friends. We shan’t miss out on any of it either.
I am seized by the import of “the sword of the Spirit”. It is defined as “the Word of God”. Hmm. What implications accrue from such a definition? Much in every way!
Our Pentecostal and Charismatic brethren make a big to-do about the Holy Spirit. In many ways they are absolutely right on target. I mean, if we look at a good many of Christian preachers, they pound the pulpit and assert unabashedly, “Around here we follow the Bible!” Then in the next breath they commence to preaching denominational soap box issues and doctrinal statements. Well, so much for following the Bible! One can only conclude that they equate their doctrines with the Bible itself!
Such Bible believers are no closer to the truth than some of those who emphasize the Holy Spirit in contrast to the Bible. When we insist on knowing where their beliefs are located in Scripture, they shuffle the feet and stutter a bit, and end up asserting how the Holy Spirit told them what they claim.
We will see where this leads in our next study. Let’s commit our ways to the Lord Jesus now and enjoy His fellowship a while.
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Damocles wanted to live like King Dionysius, so Dionysius obliged. He had Damocles outfitted in kingly garb and bedecked with jewelry. He sat him at the table and served him a gourmet meal. Damocles ate until it came out of his ears, before he even noticed the catch, this oddity in the room. There above his head, right where he was seated at the banqueting table, was a sword suspended by a single horse hair, dangling over the crown of his head.
Damocles nearly toppled over in his chair, frightened out of his wits. “What is that doing there?” he blurted out to King Dionysius.
Dionysius stared him straight in the eye and soberly explained, “You wanted to know what the life of a king is like, didn’t you? Well, now you not only know its pleasures but also its precariousness. And I see by your reaction that you don’t much relish the life.”
All of this was too much for Damocles. He fled the life of the court fawner and returned to real life as he once knew it, nevermore to be seen or heard anywhere near the throne room.
From this tale of ancient mythology has come the adage, “the sword of Damocles”. It refers to a situation which potentially brings with it harm or catastrophe, an imminent peril which looms on the horizon.
In our Bible verse today we have the sixth and final piece in “the full armor of God”. Paul phrases this piece of armor as “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God”. There is a gourmet’s meal in those words, dear friends. We shan’t miss out on any of it either.
I am seized by the import of “the sword of the Spirit”. It is defined as “the Word of God”. Hmm. What implications accrue from such a definition? Much in every way!
Our Pentecostal and Charismatic brethren make a big to-do about the Holy Spirit. In many ways they are absolutely right on target. I mean, if we look at a good many of Christian preachers, they pound the pulpit and assert unabashedly, “Around here we follow the Bible!” Then in the next breath they commence to preaching denominational soap box issues and doctrinal statements. Well, so much for following the Bible! One can only conclude that they equate their doctrines with the Bible itself!
Such Bible believers are no closer to the truth than some of those who emphasize the Holy Spirit in contrast to the Bible. When we insist on knowing where their beliefs are located in Scripture, they shuffle the feet and stutter a bit, and end up asserting how the Holy Spirit told them what they claim.
We will see where this leads in our next study. Let’s commit our ways to the Lord Jesus now and enjoy His fellowship a while.
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/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
September 25, 2012
The Sword of Damocles – Part 1
And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God [Ephesians 6:17].
Back in the day… No, even further back than that. You still don’t have it right. Back still further, say circa 350 B.C. Back then there was this tyrant named Dionysius. He ruled over the city of Syracuse in southern Italy.
Dionysius was famed for his inordinate wealth. It would seem that he enjoyed opulence like none other in that day. The tastiest dainties he feasted upon. The most sumptuous wardrobe he bedecked himself in. Pretentiousness with the flashiest jewelry was a trademark of his. Why, he even kept many a court flatterer on the payroll, so he could daily feast on their audio servings of how fantastic he was.
Yes, Dionysius was the envy of the Mediterranean world back in the day. During Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls heyday, the prevailing shibboleth to make the rounds of the airwaves stated, “I want to be like Mike.” Well, back then it went said, “I want to be Dionysius.”
This one particular courtier actually drank the Kool-Aid. He swallowed the hype, making him the best toady Dionysius had on staff. Day in and day out without letup, Damocles practically stalked Dionysius, inundating him with envious praise and adulation.
As we might have expected, Dionysius soon tired of the charade. That is what it was to him, it was so over the top. He didn’t know Damocles was for real, that his flattery wasn’t meant to be disingenuous. Damocles, it would appear, was the original rock-‘n’-roll groupie!
Finally Dionysius took Damocles aside. Allow me for your consumption to fabricate a likely scenario in this conversation. He asked Damocles, “So you think my life is glamorous, do you?”
Damocles responded without hesitation, “Oh, yes indeed, good King Dionysius. Would that I could be a tenth of the man you are!”
“Oh, so you would like to be me, would you?” shot back Dionysius’ retort.
“Yes, good king,” rejoined this simpleton courtier. “Without reservation I affirm your question. ‘Twould be a dream come true!”
To which Dionysius replied, “Okay, then. So be it. You will live my life for a while.”
Then the king gave the order to prepare things for Damocles, so that he could enjoy the life of Dionysius. Straightway Damocles was bedecked in luxurious garments and the jewelry of his choice. He was seated at the banqueting table, which was filled with scrumptious dishes like Damocles had never imagined he would enjoy. So Damocles dived in mouth first, not bothering to come up for air until his tummy was sated.
Let us take our leave of this study at this time. We will return to it on the morrow. Enjoy your quiet time with 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...
Back in the day… No, even further back than that. You still don’t have it right. Back still further, say circa 350 B.C. Back then there was this tyrant named Dionysius. He ruled over the city of Syracuse in southern Italy.
Dionysius was famed for his inordinate wealth. It would seem that he enjoyed opulence like none other in that day. The tastiest dainties he feasted upon. The most sumptuous wardrobe he bedecked himself in. Pretentiousness with the flashiest jewelry was a trademark of his. Why, he even kept many a court flatterer on the payroll, so he could daily feast on their audio servings of how fantastic he was.
Yes, Dionysius was the envy of the Mediterranean world back in the day. During Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls heyday, the prevailing shibboleth to make the rounds of the airwaves stated, “I want to be like Mike.” Well, back then it went said, “I want to be Dionysius.”
This one particular courtier actually drank the Kool-Aid. He swallowed the hype, making him the best toady Dionysius had on staff. Day in and day out without letup, Damocles practically stalked Dionysius, inundating him with envious praise and adulation.
As we might have expected, Dionysius soon tired of the charade. That is what it was to him, it was so over the top. He didn’t know Damocles was for real, that his flattery wasn’t meant to be disingenuous. Damocles, it would appear, was the original rock-‘n’-roll groupie!
Finally Dionysius took Damocles aside. Allow me for your consumption to fabricate a likely scenario in this conversation. He asked Damocles, “So you think my life is glamorous, do you?”
Damocles responded without hesitation, “Oh, yes indeed, good King Dionysius. Would that I could be a tenth of the man you are!”
“Oh, so you would like to be me, would you?” shot back Dionysius’ retort.
“Yes, good king,” rejoined this simpleton courtier. “Without reservation I affirm your question. ‘Twould be a dream come true!”
To which Dionysius replied, “Okay, then. So be it. You will live my life for a while.”
Then the king gave the order to prepare things for Damocles, so that he could enjoy the life of Dionysius. Straightway Damocles was bedecked in luxurious garments and the jewelry of his choice. He was seated at the banqueting table, which was filled with scrumptious dishes like Damocles had never imagined he would enjoy. So Damocles dived in mouth first, not bothering to come up for air until his tummy was sated.
Let us take our leave of this study at this time. We will return to it on the morrow. Enjoy your quiet time with 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...
September 24, 2012
Hard Hat Area – Part 4
And take the helmet of salvation [Ephesians 6:17].
Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for man’s sins. Jesus then rose out of death three days later in a new spiritual body apart from sin. The Word of God proclaims this truth to man and offers him Jesus’ payment for his sins and a new resurrection life, if the man will but believe the Word of God, acknowledge his sins to God, and ask God to grant this salvation to him.
This is what it means to be saved, at least in part. The other part is that Jesus not only paid the penalty for my sins. He also rose out of death for my sins in order to live a new, resurrection life. This too is what I receive by grace through faith. I am not only saved from death as the penalty for my sins. I am also given a new, resurrection life, in which I can live free from sin and serve the Lord righteously.
But not every person is saved. This is not any fault of God’s, mind you. He did His part, and He freely offers it to each and every person (i.e., grace). The fault lies with the individual person. To receive this free gift from God, each person has to hold out his hand and ask God for it. Anyone who is not saved has failed to do so.
To receive God’s salvation we must believe the Gospel (i.e., faith). The Gospel teaches man that he is a sinner and separated from God by his sins. He is dead in his trespasses and sins, you see. The Gospel than notes how Jesus paid the penalty for his sins and freely offers it to him.
In Biblical faith the man` believes this, thus acknowledging that he is indeed a sinner and dead in his sins. He asks the Lord to forgive him for his sins and grant him the free gift of God in Christ Jesus. In doing this the man symbolically dies on the cross “in Christ”, and he then rises out of death “in Christ” as a new resurrected person.
All of this bears relevance to “the helmet of salvation”. The helmet covers the head, wherein is the brain. The brain makes sense of what we see and hear and directs the hands and feet as to what to do. When Satan accuses the Christian of being a phony, of still being the same old sinner and not a new creation at all, the Christian must needs be “transformed by the renewing of the mind” to withstand the assaults of the evil one.
Only by means of daily feeding on the Word of God can the Christian’s faith grow into maturity and remain strong and vibrant. By keeping his focus on his salvation, the Christian doesn’t depend on his own righteousness. He depends on “the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus”.
No matter how much truthful negativity Satan may spew at him, the Christian thoughtfully considers Who Christ Jesus is, what He did for the Christian, and why Satan’s accusations won’t hold water at the bar of God. This is another way of saying that the Christian is wearing “the helmet of salvation”. His thinking, his understanding, is based on the Word of God as it pertains to the Person and ministry of Jesus Christ his Lord, not on his own reasoning and goodness.
So are you wearing “the helmet of salvation”? The Roman legionnaire might find his helmet hot and itchy, but I can promise you “the helmet of salvation” is the most comfortable head gear ever!
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...
Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for man’s sins. Jesus then rose out of death three days later in a new spiritual body apart from sin. The Word of God proclaims this truth to man and offers him Jesus’ payment for his sins and a new resurrection life, if the man will but believe the Word of God, acknowledge his sins to God, and ask God to grant this salvation to him.
This is what it means to be saved, at least in part. The other part is that Jesus not only paid the penalty for my sins. He also rose out of death for my sins in order to live a new, resurrection life. This too is what I receive by grace through faith. I am not only saved from death as the penalty for my sins. I am also given a new, resurrection life, in which I can live free from sin and serve the Lord righteously.
But not every person is saved. This is not any fault of God’s, mind you. He did His part, and He freely offers it to each and every person (i.e., grace). The fault lies with the individual person. To receive this free gift from God, each person has to hold out his hand and ask God for it. Anyone who is not saved has failed to do so.
To receive God’s salvation we must believe the Gospel (i.e., faith). The Gospel teaches man that he is a sinner and separated from God by his sins. He is dead in his trespasses and sins, you see. The Gospel than notes how Jesus paid the penalty for his sins and freely offers it to him.
In Biblical faith the man` believes this, thus acknowledging that he is indeed a sinner and dead in his sins. He asks the Lord to forgive him for his sins and grant him the free gift of God in Christ Jesus. In doing this the man symbolically dies on the cross “in Christ”, and he then rises out of death “in Christ” as a new resurrected person.
All of this bears relevance to “the helmet of salvation”. The helmet covers the head, wherein is the brain. The brain makes sense of what we see and hear and directs the hands and feet as to what to do. When Satan accuses the Christian of being a phony, of still being the same old sinner and not a new creation at all, the Christian must needs be “transformed by the renewing of the mind” to withstand the assaults of the evil one.
Only by means of daily feeding on the Word of God can the Christian’s faith grow into maturity and remain strong and vibrant. By keeping his focus on his salvation, the Christian doesn’t depend on his own righteousness. He depends on “the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus”.
No matter how much truthful negativity Satan may spew at him, the Christian thoughtfully considers Who Christ Jesus is, what He did for the Christian, and why Satan’s accusations won’t hold water at the bar of God. This is another way of saying that the Christian is wearing “the helmet of salvation”. His thinking, his understanding, is based on the Word of God as it pertains to the Person and ministry of Jesus Christ his Lord, not on his own reasoning and goodness.
So are you wearing “the helmet of salvation”? The Roman legionnaire might find his helmet hot and itchy, but I can promise you “the helmet of salvation” is the most comfortable head gear ever!
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 23, 2012
Hard Hat Area - Part 3
And take the helmet of salvation [Ephesians 6:17].
Paul employed the visible physical realities of the battlefield and the Roman legionnaire’s armor, in order to teach invisible spiritual truth about spiritual warfare and the Christian’s “full armor of God”. Let’s continue to vet this matter.
So there was this Roman soldier out on the battlefield, bedecked in his several pieces of armor. For purposes of today’s study we want to take note of the helmet on his head. What useful purpose did it serve? I mean, it was uncomfortable. It couldn’t breathe so it had to be hot and itchy. Why would the soldier want to wear it anyway?
In answer all we need do is take a gander across the battlefield at the enemy troops. Some had bows with flaming arrows on the bowstrings. Without the helmet to shield his head, what would become of the Roman soldier, should one of those arrows land on the crown of his head?
And then there were all the cavalry soldiers with their lances and swords. They came galloping up, towering over the Roman soldier on the ground. When they swung their sword or jabbed their lance, the Roman soldier’s head was the first part of his body to receive the not-so-welcome blow. Without the helmet to shield his head, what would become of the Roman soldier, should one of those blows land on the crown of his head?
And let us not leave off the masses of infantry, as they attacked the Roman soldier. Each one carried a spear and a sword, all for the purpose of inflicting bodily harm to the Roman soldier. Without the helmet to shield his head, what, pray tell, would become of the Roman soldier, should one of those spears or swords hit him up side the head?
Isn’t it obvious why the helmet was considered to be part and parcel of the Roman legionnaire’s armor? The same rationale explains why the Lord included it as one of the integral pieces of “the full armor of God”.
In the Christian’s case, this helmet involves “salvation”. And that is the crux of the matter, when it comes to deciphering this piece of armor in the spiritual armory of the Christian, dear friends.
What does the word “salvation” speak of? The word “salvation” is the noun form of “saved”. We are saved by grace through faith. The word “grace” refers to a gift from God given freely, without charge. The word “faith” means that we hear the Word of God, believe what He says, and act accordingly.
The Word of God tells us how the eternal Son of God took upon humanity circa 3 B.C. He always is God. From the point He took upon humanity, thenceforth throughout all eternity He is also a real man. He is the God-man.
This God-man Jesus Christ died on the cross circa 30 A.D. Being God as He is, Jesus had no sin of His own. The wages of sin is death, but Jesus had no sin. Why, then, did He die? He died not for His own sins, but for the sins of all mankind past, present, and future. He paid the penalty for man’s sins, so now man doesn’t have to pay it.
This is what it means to be saved, at least in part. We will expound further on this topic on the morrow. Allow the Holy Spirit to pour this teaching over your mind and fill your heart with it now. See you tomorrow.
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...
Paul employed the visible physical realities of the battlefield and the Roman legionnaire’s armor, in order to teach invisible spiritual truth about spiritual warfare and the Christian’s “full armor of God”. Let’s continue to vet this matter.
So there was this Roman soldier out on the battlefield, bedecked in his several pieces of armor. For purposes of today’s study we want to take note of the helmet on his head. What useful purpose did it serve? I mean, it was uncomfortable. It couldn’t breathe so it had to be hot and itchy. Why would the soldier want to wear it anyway?
In answer all we need do is take a gander across the battlefield at the enemy troops. Some had bows with flaming arrows on the bowstrings. Without the helmet to shield his head, what would become of the Roman soldier, should one of those arrows land on the crown of his head?
And then there were all the cavalry soldiers with their lances and swords. They came galloping up, towering over the Roman soldier on the ground. When they swung their sword or jabbed their lance, the Roman soldier’s head was the first part of his body to receive the not-so-welcome blow. Without the helmet to shield his head, what would become of the Roman soldier, should one of those blows land on the crown of his head?
And let us not leave off the masses of infantry, as they attacked the Roman soldier. Each one carried a spear and a sword, all for the purpose of inflicting bodily harm to the Roman soldier. Without the helmet to shield his head, what, pray tell, would become of the Roman soldier, should one of those spears or swords hit him up side the head?
Isn’t it obvious why the helmet was considered to be part and parcel of the Roman legionnaire’s armor? The same rationale explains why the Lord included it as one of the integral pieces of “the full armor of God”.
In the Christian’s case, this helmet involves “salvation”. And that is the crux of the matter, when it comes to deciphering this piece of armor in the spiritual armory of the Christian, dear friends.
What does the word “salvation” speak of? The word “salvation” is the noun form of “saved”. We are saved by grace through faith. The word “grace” refers to a gift from God given freely, without charge. The word “faith” means that we hear the Word of God, believe what He says, and act accordingly.
The Word of God tells us how the eternal Son of God took upon humanity circa 3 B.C. He always is God. From the point He took upon humanity, thenceforth throughout all eternity He is also a real man. He is the God-man.
This God-man Jesus Christ died on the cross circa 30 A.D. Being God as He is, Jesus had no sin of His own. The wages of sin is death, but Jesus had no sin. Why, then, did He die? He died not for His own sins, but for the sins of all mankind past, present, and future. He paid the penalty for man’s sins, so now man doesn’t have to pay it.
This is what it means to be saved, at least in part. We will expound further on this topic on the morrow. Allow the Holy Spirit to pour this teaching over your mind and fill your heart with it now. See you tomorrow.
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 22, 2012
Hard Hat Area - Part 2
And take the helmet of salvation [Ephesians 6:17].
Hats and helmets! Hats and helmets! How to decide which to wear? Ah, that is the question. If we’re on the sidelines during the football game, we would choose a hat, or more specifically, a cap to wear. But if we’re out in the trenches of the football field with the big uglies, well, we had best be wearing the helmet!
You see, the context determines what to wear, does it not? Yes, it does. We mustn’t forget Rule #1 for Bible study, “A text without a context is a pretext.”
If I am going to the office in a suit and tie, a helmet would be rather odd-looking on my head…unless I drove a motor cycle to work. But if I worked atop the frame of a skyscraper welding steel beams together, a baseball cap or a top hat would be out of place. In that location under those conditions a hard hat is called for.
So what is the context of Ephesians 6? Well, Paul itemizes the pieces of “the full armor of God”, to be used by the Christian in conducting spiritual warfare. Okay, then what sort of outfit is suitable for going to war? Should the soldier bedeck himself in a tuxedo and top hat? You think? Wouldn’t we expect to see him outfitted in camouflage attire with a helmet on his head? Yep, I do believe that would be the likelihood.
The Christian is to march off to conduct spiritual warfare. The fifth piece in “the full armor of God” is “the helmet of salvation”. Marching off to war with a helmet protecting the head: that seems about right.
Oh, but this is not just any old helmet. This is “the helmet of salvation” with which we have to do.
Someone is befuddled, “Huh? What in the world is ‘the helmet of salvation’? Never heard of the thing!”
And that is not surprising, kind sir, because it is a special piece of armor developed by the Lord for exclusive use by His soldiers, as they conduct spiritual warfare on His behalf. The Lord even owns the patent on this helmet. No one else can make use of it.
In order for us to get a handle on what “the helmet of salvation” consists, we would do well to press F5 and refresh the old noggin a bit. In Scripture the Holy Spirit employs visible physical realities to teach invisible spiritual truths.
In the case of Ephesians 6 the visible physical reality is physical warfare, while its counterpart in the spiritual realm is spiritual warfare. Other visible physical realities are the pieces of armor worn by the Roman legionnaire. The spiritual counterparts to these are “the full armor of God”, as Paul enumerates them in Ephesians 6.
Oh, dear. Not again. We are out of time. We’ll have to wait another day to learn more about this matter. But we can still grow from what we’ve already devoured today. Just sit a while with Jesus and see for yourself.
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...
Hats and helmets! Hats and helmets! How to decide which to wear? Ah, that is the question. If we’re on the sidelines during the football game, we would choose a hat, or more specifically, a cap to wear. But if we’re out in the trenches of the football field with the big uglies, well, we had best be wearing the helmet!
You see, the context determines what to wear, does it not? Yes, it does. We mustn’t forget Rule #1 for Bible study, “A text without a context is a pretext.”
If I am going to the office in a suit and tie, a helmet would be rather odd-looking on my head…unless I drove a motor cycle to work. But if I worked atop the frame of a skyscraper welding steel beams together, a baseball cap or a top hat would be out of place. In that location under those conditions a hard hat is called for.
So what is the context of Ephesians 6? Well, Paul itemizes the pieces of “the full armor of God”, to be used by the Christian in conducting spiritual warfare. Okay, then what sort of outfit is suitable for going to war? Should the soldier bedeck himself in a tuxedo and top hat? You think? Wouldn’t we expect to see him outfitted in camouflage attire with a helmet on his head? Yep, I do believe that would be the likelihood.
The Christian is to march off to conduct spiritual warfare. The fifth piece in “the full armor of God” is “the helmet of salvation”. Marching off to war with a helmet protecting the head: that seems about right.
Oh, but this is not just any old helmet. This is “the helmet of salvation” with which we have to do.
Someone is befuddled, “Huh? What in the world is ‘the helmet of salvation’? Never heard of the thing!”
And that is not surprising, kind sir, because it is a special piece of armor developed by the Lord for exclusive use by His soldiers, as they conduct spiritual warfare on His behalf. The Lord even owns the patent on this helmet. No one else can make use of it.
In order for us to get a handle on what “the helmet of salvation” consists, we would do well to press F5 and refresh the old noggin a bit. In Scripture the Holy Spirit employs visible physical realities to teach invisible spiritual truths.
In the case of Ephesians 6 the visible physical reality is physical warfare, while its counterpart in the spiritual realm is spiritual warfare. Other visible physical realities are the pieces of armor worn by the Roman legionnaire. The spiritual counterparts to these are “the full armor of God”, as Paul enumerates them in Ephesians 6.
Oh, dear. Not again. We are out of time. We’ll have to wait another day to learn more about this matter. But we can still grow from what we’ve already devoured today. Just sit a while with Jesus and see for yourself.
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 21, 2012
Hard Hat Area - Part 1
And take the helmet of salvation [Ephesians 6:17].
One of my favorite books—well, actually two books—are Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass”. The books regale both our intellect and fantasy with a farrago of memorable characters, each one well developed by the author. Not a one seems able to tire us out in the repetition of reading.
In the first-named book, two such characters function as a couple. I make reference to the Hatter and the March Hare. Another character, the Cheshire Cat, labels the both of them as “mad”. This has added credence to an elaboration of the name “Hatter” to “the Mad Hatter”.
Well, still one more character in the story, the Queen of Hearts, heard the Mad Hatter sing at her celebration. Being unable to find anything good in anyone, the Queen of Hearts barked her usual order against the Mad Hatter, “Off with his head!” His crime according to her was that he “murdered time”!
The Mad Hatter escaped with his head nonetheless, but Time retaliated by bringing himself to a halt vis-à-vis the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. This meant that, for those two characters, time stood still at 6:00 PM forever. This was tea time for the British, which is why the Mad Hatter sporadically exclaims “Tea Time!”.
We won’t analyze the story or interpret any of the characters. That is not our goal in this study. I bring up these characters, or more specifically, the Mad Hatter, because of our Bible text. The Hatter, aka the Mad Hatter, derived his name by the distinctive hat he wore.
Our Bible verse has to do with a hat too, which is why I thought of the Mad Hatter, a most famous character with respect to hats. In our Bible verse the Apostle Paul notes the fifth piece in “the full armor the God”, which the Lord furnishes the Christian for conducting spiritual warfare. Paul depicts it as “the helmet of salvation”.
No doubt you are thinking, “A helmet isn’t a hat, teacher.”
Oh, but I beg to differ. Both items are worn on the top of the head to cover the skull. A helmet is simply a hard hat used in war rather than peace time. It is meant to serve as armor which protects the vital organ known as the brain. Man would have a difficult time functioning, sans the brain.
Yikes! Time certainly hasn’t retaliated against us by standing still. We’ve run out of time today. We’ll have to wait on the morrow to arrive, to continue this analysis. Use your time wisely now. Jesus is waiting.
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...
One of my favorite books—well, actually two books—are Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking-Glass”. The books regale both our intellect and fantasy with a farrago of memorable characters, each one well developed by the author. Not a one seems able to tire us out in the repetition of reading.
In the first-named book, two such characters function as a couple. I make reference to the Hatter and the March Hare. Another character, the Cheshire Cat, labels the both of them as “mad”. This has added credence to an elaboration of the name “Hatter” to “the Mad Hatter”.
Well, still one more character in the story, the Queen of Hearts, heard the Mad Hatter sing at her celebration. Being unable to find anything good in anyone, the Queen of Hearts barked her usual order against the Mad Hatter, “Off with his head!” His crime according to her was that he “murdered time”!
The Mad Hatter escaped with his head nonetheless, but Time retaliated by bringing himself to a halt vis-à-vis the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. This meant that, for those two characters, time stood still at 6:00 PM forever. This was tea time for the British, which is why the Mad Hatter sporadically exclaims “Tea Time!”.
We won’t analyze the story or interpret any of the characters. That is not our goal in this study. I bring up these characters, or more specifically, the Mad Hatter, because of our Bible text. The Hatter, aka the Mad Hatter, derived his name by the distinctive hat he wore.
Our Bible verse has to do with a hat too, which is why I thought of the Mad Hatter, a most famous character with respect to hats. In our Bible verse the Apostle Paul notes the fifth piece in “the full armor the God”, which the Lord furnishes the Christian for conducting spiritual warfare. Paul depicts it as “the helmet of salvation”.
No doubt you are thinking, “A helmet isn’t a hat, teacher.”
Oh, but I beg to differ. Both items are worn on the top of the head to cover the skull. A helmet is simply a hard hat used in war rather than peace time. It is meant to serve as armor which protects the vital organ known as the brain. Man would have a difficult time functioning, sans the brain.
Yikes! Time certainly hasn’t retaliated against us by standing still. We’ve run out of time today. We’ll have to wait on the morrow to arrive, to continue this analysis. Use your time wisely now. Jesus is waiting.
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 20, 2012
Shields and Fire Extinguishers – Part 4
In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one [Ephesians 6:16].
In our last study we enumerated seven examples of Satan’s flaming arrows, each of which gives him such enjoyment to shoot at the Christian soldier on the battlefield of spiritual warfare. If even one of those arrows should find its mark, it could prove critical to the Christian soldier’s spiritual vitality, rendering him useless in his Lord’s service. And on that battlefield the sky is filled with them! Oh, dear. What to do?
Well, that is where the Word of God comes in, dear friends. Remember, every piece of armor points us to some aspect of the Word of God and the Christian’s relationship with God’s Word.
In order to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one”, what is it again that the Lord furnishes to the Christian? Is he to panic and cry hysterically? No way. Is he to hightail it outta there in precipitous flight? That would be a no. Ah, now I remember. He is to obey the Word of God.
So, then, what does the Word of God instruct the Christian to do, in order to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one”? The answer is…is…is…“take up the shield of faith”. Again, “faith” is defined as believing the Word of God and conducting oneself accordingly. Let’s consider how this works itself out on the battlefield of spiritual warfare.
One flaming arrow accuses the saint of having sinned. Ergo, he’s not really a saint at all. He’s still the same old sinner. The saint’s response of faith to this charge goes something like this:
Yes, the old sinner still exists in me, and he did get the upper hand on that occasion. But I confessed my sin to the Lord Jesus, and He is faithful and just to forgive me my sin and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. He can do this, Satan, because the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses me from all sin. So begone with you, Satan!
We could go through the other six flaming arrows of Satan’s accusations against the saint on that battlefield, and we could enunciate the saint’s answer from the Word of God for each one. But it would be good exercise for each person to do this for himself. The investment of time will earn valuable spiritual returns for us.
With that we will bring this study to a close. In our next study we will continue descanting on spiritual warfare and the next piece of “the full armor of God”. For now let’s sit at the feet of Jesus and ponder “the shield of faith”. It is the fire extinguisher which smothers the flaming arrows of Satan’s assaults, an invaluable weapon in the arsenal of God’s army indeed!
And isn’t that odd…a shield that is a fire extinguisher? Leave it to God to invent such a contraption! But I’m sure glad He did.
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 enumerated seven examples of Satan’s flaming arrows, each of which gives him such enjoyment to shoot at the Christian soldier on the battlefield of spiritual warfare. If even one of those arrows should find its mark, it could prove critical to the Christian soldier’s spiritual vitality, rendering him useless in his Lord’s service. And on that battlefield the sky is filled with them! Oh, dear. What to do?
Well, that is where the Word of God comes in, dear friends. Remember, every piece of armor points us to some aspect of the Word of God and the Christian’s relationship with God’s Word.
In order to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one”, what is it again that the Lord furnishes to the Christian? Is he to panic and cry hysterically? No way. Is he to hightail it outta there in precipitous flight? That would be a no. Ah, now I remember. He is to obey the Word of God.
So, then, what does the Word of God instruct the Christian to do, in order to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one”? The answer is…is…is…“take up the shield of faith”. Again, “faith” is defined as believing the Word of God and conducting oneself accordingly. Let’s consider how this works itself out on the battlefield of spiritual warfare.
One flaming arrow accuses the saint of having sinned. Ergo, he’s not really a saint at all. He’s still the same old sinner. The saint’s response of faith to this charge goes something like this:
Yes, the old sinner still exists in me, and he did get the upper hand on that occasion. But I confessed my sin to the Lord Jesus, and He is faithful and just to forgive me my sin and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. He can do this, Satan, because the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses me from all sin. So begone with you, Satan!
We could go through the other six flaming arrows of Satan’s accusations against the saint on that battlefield, and we could enunciate the saint’s answer from the Word of God for each one. But it would be good exercise for each person to do this for himself. The investment of time will earn valuable spiritual returns for us.
With that we will bring this study to a close. In our next study we will continue descanting on spiritual warfare and the next piece of “the full armor of God”. For now let’s sit at the feet of Jesus and ponder “the shield of faith”. It is the fire extinguisher which smothers the flaming arrows of Satan’s assaults, an invaluable weapon in the arsenal of God’s army indeed!
And isn’t that odd…a shield that is a fire extinguisher? Leave it to God to invent such a contraption! But I’m sure glad He did.
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...
