2002-01-01
Good Morning Fellow Believers,
The Lord leads me to conclude writing about the full armor of God as it is listed in EPH 6: 10-18, taking up with the "sword given by the Spirit" [EPH 6: 17], which is the word of God. This particular tool for spiritual warfare is very precious to me personally. It's what God has called me to share with others for as long as I am able. The strength to do so, the self-discipline to study it each day, and the hunger to share it with others all come from Him. The only thing that we can do is to make ourselves available to the Spirit and pray for Him to fill us continually. The word is a primary source for our knowledge about God along with what He tells us in prayer. 2 TIM 3: 16-17, "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that they person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed." There is no accident that the concept of God's word and that of a sword are thought of together. Just look at HE 4: 12 to see the connection. "The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. it cuts all the way through, to where the soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of man's heart."
While there is no truth in the devil's comments, there are no lies in God's. That is a pressing reason why we need to chase away the devil's lies with the truth, which is always more powerful. The devil is cunning and loves the darkness. God is open, forthright, and honest. PS 119: 105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, a light for my path." Think of all the times in our lives when we were faced with a difficult decision or a need for better understanding of something that is impacting us. Anyone foolish enough to turn to the adversary for help will have nothing but pain and lies delivered to him. Look what Adam and Eve had to go through, being cast out of the Garden of Eden, because of the devil's cunning. But, those of us who turn to God for direction and understanding will get these things. Solomon's life is a example of both these points. When young, he sought God out for wisdom in 1 K 3: 6-9, and was given it. When he got older, he worshipped foreign gods and was not faithful, a move which led to his loss of authority to rule Israel [1 K 11: 3-6, 11]. Remember that RO 1: 18-25 explains why anyone doing this has no excuse and how he "exchanges the truth for a lie?" This is particularly true of people who know the truth beforehand. Because they have been given much responsibility, they need to be held to a higher standard than most.
I cannot imagine trying to get through life's challenges without God's word. The comment that God makes through John at the end of Revelation is very important to us. REV 22: 16-19, "I, John, solemnly warn everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book; if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to his punishment the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes anything away from the prophetic words in the book, God will take away from him his share of the fruit of the tree of life and of the Holy City, which are described in this book." Of course, the immediate thought might be that this only applies to Revelation. However, Revelation is the consummation of all prophecy throughout both the OT and the NT. Therefore, these admonitions regarding God's word apply to the entire Bible, in my humble opinion. 2 TIM 1: 13-14 supports that assertion. [Paul writing to Timothy], "Hold firmly to the true words that I taught you, as the example for you to follow, and remain in the faith and love that are ours in union with Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Who lives in us, guard the treasure entrusted [the Gospel] to you." Guarding the word, sharing it accurately, using it to light the paths of our lives, taking direction from it, and using it as a paradigm in measuring what we hear from other sources are all prime directives our Lord gives us. The word is a powerful tool in combating the adversary.
Because of my experience being involved in a religion regarded by mainstream Christians as a cult, I must make one further assertion. There are many people who would like to interfere with God's direct communication with us through the word. These human intermediaries feel they have a better understanding of the word than we would get from studying it directly from a Bible. They have caused no end of grief because of their foolish pride. Sadly, many people have been taken in by their alterations, human spins, and outright lies, people who might otherwise have found the road to salvation through Christ, have been lost. This interference with God's word has caused divisions in families and brought prejudice, suffering and countless manifestations of misery into people's lives. We must pray and pray hard against it. Consider the people who might be laboring under these misconceptions in our lives. We must include them in our prayers that they will one day know the saving truth of the Gospel and the blessed forgiveness that Christ brings us.
PRAYER : O Lord, one of the most effective weapons against the adversary that You have given us is Your word. How precious and vital this life-giving force is! It teaches, guides, encourages, enlightens, convicts, empowers, gives discernment, builds faith, gives Your perspectives, and equips us to do spiritual warfare. You have asked us to study it, guard it, and have given us one enormous insight into it in JN 1: 1-4, "Before the world was created, the Word already existed; He was with God, and He was the same as God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. Through Him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without Him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to mankind." Satan's darkness is pierced by the light of Your Word. If we remain in it, we will be victorious over his attempts to challenge our faith and, indeed, our very salvation. Christ Himself is the lantern that allows us to perceive Your messages. The Holy Spirit explains them to us. No human intermediary can or should do this. We must be alert to that and never allow the Evil One to cast the pages of Your Scriptures into darkness with his horrific agenda. If we pray to You for it, You will keep our eyes focused on You, and the Holy Spirit will keep our vessels filled. We dedicate ourselves to making Your word the guide for our lives, to making Christ Lord over them, and to remaining alert against the devil's attempts to thwart Your good purpose. Christ's blood shed for us opened the way to our salvation when we came to faith. We offer up our lives, which He saved, to Your glory. In Christ's name, amen.
Tomorrow's message is on important combat intelligence, i.e. exactly what we are fighting spiritual warfare against. Included will be the use of some tools that God has given us. This vital information wouldn't be available to us, unless our Abba loved us dearly. I witness to you that He most assuredly does. The blessings each of us receive from Him when we are faithful are amble evidence of that. Take some time today to think about what those blessings are in your lives. I know you will find many, if you do this, as I have in mine. In the meanwhile, know that Your loving Abba is eager for us to turn to Him any time we have a question, need encouragement, need direction, require healing, or feel empty. He is ready, willing, and able to direct the Holy Spirit to fill us when we are willing to empty our vessels of human agendas and pray for that. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn