2024-11-15
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Last week, we saw how the crafty Satan wants to outwit us. Knowing the Scriptures leaves us with the tools needed to prevent that. Discernment is necessary. We can pray PS 119: 66, “Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.” Ezekiel wrote, in EZK 44: 23, “Moreover, they [priests when the priesthood was restored] shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Surely this plea matters to us: PS 19: 12, “Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.” When spiritual warfare is necessary, God doesn’t leave us without what we need to fight it successfully.
God supplies us with His armor in EPH 6: 12-18. Remember, He has explained how the enemy works, in EPH 6: 12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” So, what is this armor God gives us? That’s revealed in EPH 13-18, “Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then;, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, keep alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Each of the words in italics needs further discussion. Beginning with truth, we can’t do the Lord’s bidding without it. One of Satan’s favorite ways to interfere with the Lord’s work is by preventing people from telling the truth. Our society places tremendous value on how much money a person makes or what titles he claims to have. When a person can’t make a lot, he is penalized by the ravages of poverty, and loss of self-esteem. He loses interest in striving to better himself and his surroundings. I saw this first- hand in my travels when seeing certain neighborhoods, with dilapidated, unpainted houses, for example. There are pockets of poverty everywhere one travels, even in big cities. When formerly bad parts of town are gentrified, one must ask: Where do the former residents who can’t afford to pay the now-higher rents go? Some people lie about their education, their “station” in life, or whatever to cover it up. They don’t feel they can be truthful about their background. Governments don’t reach out to people in trouble with health care or other needs, creating a huge gap between the haves, and the have nots. We must also consider the huge number of family farms that have been bought up by big corporations and the old-fashioned value of revering God and family that has been lost in the long run. We all know that there are people who value money and prestige over God and family. God is the only One that we can always trust to tell us the truth. Remember this: HE 4: 12-13, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account.” The Holy Spirit commands me to pick up next week with more on God’s armor.
PRAYER: O Lord, You want us to know that You are not leaving us defenseless in doing spiritual warfare with the evil one. It is up to us to pray for discernment, study Your word, and live righteously. MICAH 6: 8 is a message from You. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” You have given us the Holy Spirit to act as our Conscience and our Guide. You love us enough to hear our genuinely offered prayers and to interact with us as we deal with the challenges and victories of our lives. We love You for the grace You have shown us in sacrificing the physical life of Your Son, so that we can be saved, our sins forgiven, and justified in Your sight. It seems hardly enough that You ask us to live a life in Him, for what You are to us and what you give us. Yet, all we can do is to live according to Your teaching, offering You praise and thanksgiving in Christ’s holy/mighty name. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: As mentioned above, the Holy Spirit commands me to continue writing about the full armor of God. When we break through the stronghold of lies we hear and see constantly in the world, we are victorious over the evil one in spiritual warfare. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care about managing the money we are able to earn wisely. Instead, it means that we need to put God’s will FIRST. We must be truthful about ourselves, work to better the communities we live in, and do what we can to empower the impoverished. Certainly, it helps to remember JN 14: 6, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” 1 JN 1:8-9, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Praise and thanksgiving be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2024. All Rights Reserved.
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