Category Archives: Armor of God

A Holy Life Or A Holey Life??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #616

10 Friday Jan 2020

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Approved Unto God, Armor of God, Born Again, Faithfulness, Holey, Holiness, Holy, Holy Living

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #616 A Holy Life Or A Holey Life???

 

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:13-16

We have talked so many times about living for Jesus, yet it is ever a subject that we ought to remind ourselves of, for we live in a world that is looking for people who are real and genuine in their faith in Jesus.  God calls us to be a reflection of His glory, rather than to be blending in with an evil world.  When temptation calls to your flesh and mine, it is never to lift us up, but to drag us down and tarnish the name of Jesus.  Paul called the Philippian Christians to make a difference.

“Do all things

without murmurings

and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless

and harmless,

the sons of God,

without rebuke,

in the midst of a crooked

and perverse nation,

among whom ye shine

as lights

in the world;”                  Philippians 2:14-15

I would simply like to ask each of us to examine our own heart and life; are we living a ‘holy’ life?  Or have we allowed the world to tarnish and destroy our light and leave the world looking at a “holey” picture, with great gaps in our purity and holiness.

Holy: having a spiritually pure quality; dedicated or devoted to the service of God….

Holey:  an opening through something; gap; a hollow place in a solid body…; a cavity…

Homonyms sound the same but are words with different meanings; this is what life can also be—while many claim to know Jesus, their lives are more “holey” than “holy”!  What about you and me?  Is your/my life in line with the Word of God?  How can you know?  Well, that’s a pretty simple (not easy) thing—you must get into the Word of God!  If you don’t know what God has said, you have no standard of measure by which to judge rightly.  In fact, scripture tells us that very thing!

“Study to shew thyself approved

unto God,

a workman

that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing

the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

So, in conclusion, I pray that we will each examine our heart and life in light of the Word of God; that we will get into the Word so The Word can get into us!  If you’re measuring yourself by the world’s standard there will come a day when that will fail you, yet if you learn to “rightly” divide the Word of God, you can put on “the armor” of God and walk boldly into a world of darkness and corruption with the truth and the confidence of the King who loves YOU!  Yet remember, HIS Word IS the standard!

“For the word of God is

quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul

and spirit,

and of the joints

and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest

in his sight:

but all things

are naked

and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom

we have to do.”  Hebrews 4:12-13

As my mother often said:

“You can fool all of the people, some of the time!

  You can fool some of the people, all of the time!

  You can even fool yourself!

   But you can’t fool God!“

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

Stealing Your Base??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #573

23 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Armor of God, Spiritual Warfare, The Father of Lies!, The Little Things.

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #573   Stealing Your Base???

 

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside

every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy

that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.”    Hebrews 12:1-2

I had an experience recently that brought the urgency of this verse to my mind once again.  When we take our eyes off of Jesus and forget to keep our armor on, we will find ourselves tricked, distracted and deceived by the enemy of our souls! When we find ourselves faced with the unexpected (of whatever sort it is—emotional, physical pain or temptation, financial, or any other occurrence) we can so easily be caught up in the “flesh and blood” rather than recognizing the spiritual warfare that we may be encountering!  And as this was true in my case, I just want to take this time to remind us all that we must be diligent each and every day.  In this recent episode I was so caught up in the “off-guard” nature of the encounter that I responded totally in the flesh, and before I could recognize the spiritual nature of the “real battle”, I had wasted a whole day!  When I finally came to my “senses” (my spiritual senses), I grieved before the Lord, sought His forgiveness and that of the others involved in the situation, and received His cleansing and forgiveness.

But I sadly realized that while Satan had me distracted with my own selfish flesh; I had failed to stand in the gap for a particular prayer need that I had been petitioning God about!  I wasted many hours focused on “me” rather than the need that I ought to have been interceding over!  I must confess, my heart was broken that I had missed the opportunity to respond appropriately!  While I have been forgiven, and cleansed, that time and opportunity to intercede in “that moment” can never be regained.  While God is always ready to forgive, we often suffer when we miss the boat, by being distracted!  Spiritual warfare is urgent business!  We must ‘stand fast in the evil day’; remembering that forgiveness isn’t erasure!

“If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us

our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

We must “suit up” with the armor of God—every day—every moment of every day!  Being ready for the battle—standing “fast in the evil day”!  It’s what we have to do to be ready for every battle—ready for the enemy’s attack; for he always comes when we least expect it!  Like a baseball player stealing a base when no one is looking!  Satan wants to advance his schemes in our lives, but we must keep watch, and keep our eyes on Jesus not the lion—for Jesus has rendered him ‘toothless’ if we will remain diligent!

“Be sober, be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist

stedfast

in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.”  1 Peter 5:8-9

Peter reminds us that we must be aware of our enemy, keeping our trust in Jesus; recognizing that Satan is always busy seeking a prey; resisting the enemy—steadfastly in our faith IN Jesus; and remembering that we are not alone.  Others are dealing with the same things we are; but even more importantly, we are never alone, for Jesus has promised to “never leave thee, nor forsake thee”!

So, I invite you to determine with me, to make sure that we are “suited up” each day, that we are cognizant of our enemy, and that we will “resist stedfast in the faith”! As a reminder to us all let’s rehearse the greatest passage on the “armor of God”!

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong in the Lord,

and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against

flesh and blood,

but against principalities,

against powers,

against the rulers of the darkness

of this world,

against spiritual wickedness

in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you

the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to

withstand in the evil day,

and having done all,

to stand.

14 Stand therefore,

having your loins girt about

with truth,

 and having on the breastplate

of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation

of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield

of faith,

wherewith ye shall be able

to quench all the fiery darts

of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet

of salvation,

and the sword

of the Spirit,

which is the word of God:

18 Praying always

with all prayer

and supplication

in the Spirit….”  Ephesians 6:10-18a

Let us walk “in the Spirit” not our flesh!!!  In “the Spirit” we will find spiritual victory in all we do!  (See Galatians 5:16 & 25). Keep your eyes on the ball, and no one can steal your base!

Amen and Amen!

A Struggle To Focus??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #559

29 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Armor of God, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Consider Your ways, Distractions, Encouragement, Filled With His Spirit, Follow Jesus, Growing in Jesus!, Holy Spirit, It's Your Choice, Obedience, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #559     A Struggle To Focus???

 

I just had an issue come up this morning as I was working on this post, and it reminded me of the challenge it is to keep our focus on God and keep our ways right before Him.  So, I’d simply like to share a few things to help us to keep our focus!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction

of sinners

against himself,

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

In other words, “Looking unto Jesus” will help us to think right and live a consistent holy life, knowing what our salvation cost our Lord! Just as when we drive, we have to keep our eyes on the road, or we find ourselves veering off the road, we must “fix our eyes” (the NASB version) on Jesus in our daily walk to stay on track (and I’m to run “MY” race not yours or anyone else’s).

I try to begin each day by putting on the “armor of God”, so that I will be prepared for the battles of the day (for we are in a continual battle with the enemy of our soul—and he is an expert at ‘distraction’!). Paul talked about this ‘spiritual warfare’ in several of his letters, and we’ll consider a portion of a couple of them to encourage our hearts as we press on with, through and for JESUS!

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong

in the Lord,

and in the power

of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

but against principalities,

against powers,

against the rulers,

of the darkness of this world,

against spiritual wickedness

in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you

the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand

in the evil day,

and having done all,

to stand.”  Ephesians 6:10-13

Paul clearly tells us that we are in this “wrestling” match with our enemy, so we must be aware of the enemy and keep our heart and mind ‘suited’ up in our armor.  Spend some time today rehearsing that armor in verses 14-18—it’s a worthwhile practice to pray it on every day!  We need it!  And there’s another important passage in regard to this ‘spiritual warfare’ we are in, we must actively, diligently and faithfully bring our thoughts captive to “the obedience of Christ”.  And believe me, I have just as much trouble with my thoughts, as you do with yours—because the battle is in the realm of our minds, thoughts and focus!  Our walk in the flesh is determined by our success in the spirit!

“For though we walk in the flesh,

we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare

are not carnal,

but mighty through God

to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations,

and every high thing

that exalteth itself against

the knowledge of God,

and bringing into captivity

every thought

to the obedience of Christ;”   2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Living a victorious Christian life requires more than spending a couple of hours in ‘church’ one day a week!  It requires a daily, moment by moment walk with Jesus; learning to recognize the “wiles of the devil”, knowing that we can be victorious when we keep our eyes on Jesus; but that takes diligent effort and awareness of God’s presence in every step we take, and keeping right thoughts at every turn.  One key verse that I rehearse regularly, to remind myself to think right is from Philippians 4. (And a right thought life, will manifest itself in our choices—just as a wrong thought life will show up eventually in our actions!)  May these help you today!

“Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing

by prayer

and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known

unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts

and minds

through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.”  Philippians 4:6-8

As Martin Luther was reported to have said:

“You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair”!

Amen and Amen!!!