The Riches of God - Mercy

 

Ephesians 2:4, 5

But because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our sins. It is by His grace you have been saved.

    We begin our study on The Riches of God with God's MERCY. And such great mercy God extends to those who believe on The Name of His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. 

    God sent His Son Jesus to this miserable, gloomy, dark and wicked earth for one purpose: that we would not have to die in our sins. And Jesus accomplished that purpose with His death on the cross, His blood shed for us; and by overcoming death, hell and the grave by rising from the dead and walking out of the grave! MERCY. [Book of John].

    And God is RICH in MERCY! This richness of God isn't just for one generation of people, but for many: even to a thousand generations God extends His MERCY. [Exodus 20:6; Deuteronomy 7:9]. 

    His Mercy is not just for Israel, but for everyone who believes on The Name Above All Names. [Romans 10:8-13; Luke 24:46-49; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Acts 10:34. 35]. 

    And what does God's Mercy do? It makes us alive in Christ! We are saved from certain death and the wrath of God when we believe that Jesus Christ is God's Only Begotten Son Who died on the cross in our place, taking the punishment of sin for us so that we could live for Him and with Him for ever! God's Mercy is God's Grace! 

    And it's for everyone! He didn't just single out this person or that nation: God loves the whole world, even knowing that the whole world will not love Him in return. But for those who do love Him, He has created The Way to Him. And that Way is Jesus Christ. 

    The Way [Hebrews 10:19,20]. 

    The Gate/Door [John 10:9]. 

    The Threshold [John 14:6]. 

    It is the Way of Holiness [Isaiah 35:8; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 1:15,16; Matthew 5:8]. 

    On this Highway of Holiness we are being sanctified by The Holy Spirit of God, Who begins the transforming power of God upon our small seed of faith, implanted in our hearts when we sincerely believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

    We who once were filthy and unclean because of the sin in our hearts and minds are now being made unblemished and clean through our faith in The Son of God Jesus Christ Who is our Salvation! May God's Mercy be on you, too!

  

Spiritual Blessings In The Heavenly Places

 Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be The God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us
with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places
in Christ.

How Do We Bless God?
Through our obedience to His Word, in which is His Will given, His Spirit given, His Son given, His Instructions given.
Through our faithfulness to His Word by living out our faith in His Word each day that we are alive.

How Has God Blessed Us?
With ALL Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly Places in Christ we are blessed of God. Though everyone receives some of God's blessings, only those who are in Christ can receive the spiritual blessings which God has prepared for us in the heavenly places.

One of the spiritual blessings God is preparing for us is a mansion [John 14:2,3]. Another is our eternal house in heaven, a building from God [2 Corinthians 5:1]. We have a city waiting for us [Hebrews 11:16] which God has prepared. There is a kingdom in heaven for us [Matthew 25:34].

    Our primary spiritual blessing is salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed on the cross to make payment for the sins of the world. For only God can wash clean the filth of sin from the heart who comes to Him in faith and repentance believing that He will, indeed, forgive the sinner's sins.

    In Christ we are blessed of God with Redemption, for we have been bought back from the enemy of God. In Christ we have Salvation for we have been saved from eternal damnation, eternal separation from God. In Christ we have Sanctification, for we are set apart to do good works for God. In Christ we have the Righteousness of God, for we are clothed with Christ.

    In Christ we are blessed of God with Holiness, for The Spirit of God works with The Son of God in us to transform us into God's holy people. In Christ we have the Grace of God which forgives the sins we have repented of to God. It is His Lovingkindness and Longsuffering extended towards us who believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord.

    In Christ we have been transformed into a Royal Priesthood, a people who were not God's but now are because we believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord. God has called us for His own and we belong to Him. That's a wonderful Spiritual Blessing!

    In Christ God blesses us with His Holy Spirit Who trains our hands for (spiritual) warfare (prayer that moves God and changes lives). His Spirit fills us with God's Wisdom and applies It to our hearts and our minds. His Spirit is The Breath of God breathed on us when we believed in The Name Above All Names, Jesus Christ.

    In Christ we are Created to Worship God, for God inhabits the praises of His people. In no one else can God live: only in those who are in Christ and whom Christ Jesus claims for His own.

    In Christ we are blessed of God with New Life, for now that Christ lives in us, we are a new creation, for the old person we used to be isn't here anymore. That life was a life without Christ in it. Now that Christ is in us and we are in Him, we have a New God-given, God-breathed Life.

    And in Christ this New Life cries out in Worship to The One Who has blessed us with All Spiritual Blessings in heavenly places in Christ. We sing, "Holy, Holy, Holy Is The Lord God Almighty." We praise His Holy Name. We belt out our Thanksgivings to God for Who He Is. We bless Him with our worship and adoration.

    And God receives it. Let us come even now to worship and adore Him. Together. Here and in the heavenly places in Christ.

Alive With & In Christ

 

Ephesians 2:4, 5
But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)!

Romans 6:7-11
6. We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
7. For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
8. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.
9. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.
10. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.
11. So you, too, must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My Word and believes Him Who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57
54. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55. “Where, O Grave, is your victory?
Where, O Death, is your sting?”
56. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

    

Be Strong

 

Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in The Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.

BE STRONG IN THE LORD

    I've been talking about strength-training for the last few days or so, so coming back to the BE verses should be fairly simple for me to do. I hope. Today we're encouraged to Be Strong. 

    The desert flower in this photo is called a Fairy Duster which grows in the Sonoran, Chihuahua, and Mojave deserts. And in The Domes in Milwaukee, WI, which is where I photographed it. 

    I'm using it because it appears fragile in nature, but is actually quite a strong flower. It thrives in desert heat, can withstand droughts once its roots are fully established, and needs only a minimal amount of water. It can reach a height of 1-5 feet and provides meals for birds, butterflies, and bees. Because it stands tall it also provides shelter from the heat and predators for desert wildlife. 

    Why do I bring all this up? We, the Christians, are the Fairy Dusters of the kingdom field in which we thrive. We, too, once our roots (our faith) is fully grafted into The Vine (Jesus Christ) are able to thrive and provide for those around us, as well. 

    We are strong in The Lord when The Lord is allowed to take root in us. Our faith is based on The Promises of God, which are many, but most especially on The Promise of Salvation and the indwelling power of The Holy Spirit when we believe on The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation, our deliverance, and our sanctification. 

    It is not enough to believe this and then go about our daily lives as if nothing has changed within us. For should we surrender to the temptations of sin and continue to live a sin-filled lifestyle, then truly nothing did change within us. Our belief system is then flawed and we cannot be strong in The Lord, for sin still reigns within us. 

    Even if the other thief had said he believed, thinking that would benefit him, by the very words that came of out of his mouth, we know that his heart wasn't right, and his words would not have been received by The Lord. It is not just the words we speak, but the heart must believe that Jesus Christ is Lord; receive Him into their hearts and their lives; receive The Holy Spirit that He may empower them to live righteous and holy lives. 

    That is how we can Be Strong in The Lord and in The Power of His Might.  We must make a conscious decision to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. We must be able to hear with our hearts and speak from the heart that Jesus Christ is Lord. An infant cannot make this decision. Only one who can testify to God's saving grace through Jesus Christ His Only Begotten Son can make the distinction between sin and grace, whether audibly or by sign. 

    Only then can we say, "I am strong in The Lord and The Power of His Might."

Bless God and He Will Bless Us

 

Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

    Blessing God is our primary focus as Christians, as God's people. We bless Him best when we give Jesus our hearts to live in. 
    We bless God with our hands in worship and in work.
    We bless God with our lips and our tongues when we give Him praise, sincere praise that comes from a grateful heart. 
    We bless God with our feet when we go where he wants us to go. And we go with a joyful heart knowing that our God has already provided not only a way to get there, but a way to be more fruitful in His kingdom. 
    We bless God with our arms when we carry loads to the altar (figuratively) and then lay them down there for God to meet the needs thereof. 
    We bless God in our daily lives, throughout our life, that God gets the glory and not we ourselves. 
    We praise Him and glorify His Name, for He is GOD and He is The Father of our LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST. Had He done nothing more for us, that would be enough to honor Him with our lives. 
    But God has prepared spiritual blessings for us, blessings only available IN CHRIST. If we are not in Christ, then every spiritual blessing which God has prepared for the resurrected soul is not available to us.

    Being IN CHRIST requires us to ask CHRIST to be in us. We believe by faith that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD and we give Him access to our hearts willingly and joyfully, thankful that we answered the call to salvation, to deliverance, to an abundant Life in Christ. 

    Salvation through Jesus Christ saves us from eternal damnation and gives us eternal life IN CHRIST. An eternal, abundant, overflowing, without end LIFE EVERLASTING IN CHRIST. 

    Deliverance from the bonds and chains of sin comes from a close personal working relationship IN CHRIST. Him working in us through the power of His Holy Spirit, changing our hearts and transforming us from the inside out. First the heart and the mind gets changed, then the outward things that people see changes. But the inward change must happen first. IN CHRIST we are born-again; we are born ANEW. 

    In life, in the womb and from birth, we are given by God some knowledge -- awareness of faces, voices, wetness, hunger, comfort. As we grow in life, we acquire a variety of knowledge, not all of it good or wise. So, too, must the one who lives IN CHRIST and has CHRIST living in him or her, acquire knowledge and wisdom. It is a process, an ever changing pattern of growth visible to not only ourselves, but to those who are watching us grow. Even failure is part of growing IN CHRIST, for then God prunes us and we change again into someone who is able to be more fruitful. 

    These are but three spiritual blessings we have received from The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Imagine what is in store in the mansions which Christ is preparing for us! 

God Is Love

 

1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is Love, and he that dwells in Love dwells in God, and God in him. 

Romans 13:10

Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore Love is the fulfillment of the law.

GOD IS LOVE

    What is this Love that God is? It is more than any kind of love you have ever known. This Love goes beyond brotherly love, which is outlined here in 1 Peter 3:8-9 "Finally, you be all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be tenderhearted, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing." 

    This Love that God is, is deeper than any intimate relationship love we have known with another person. It is more than a sentimental love, more than a familial love, more than a spousal love, more than a best friend love. It is all-encompassing and divinely unconditional. It is AGAPE.

    Agape, as described in The Topical Lexicon: 'denotes a holy, self‐giving disposition that originates in God, is displayed perfectly in Jesus Christ, and is implanted in believers by the Holy Spirit.'

    This Love that God is flows so deep that when our sins are washed in it, they are never seen again. In this Love God blots out our sins and they become like mist [Isaiah 44:2; 1 John 1:9]. 

    This Love which God is fills us with The Hope of His Salvation through His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. This Love is a poured out Love, poured into our hearts.

    Romans 5:5

And hope makes us not ashamed; because The Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by The Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

    This Love Whom God is, is Grace in Action. It is Jesus' ministry, Jesus' gospel message, Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the dead given to anyone who will hear it; everyone who will receive it and believe it and live it. 

    As Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus, this, too, is my prayer for you:

    Ephesians 3:16-21

16. I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 

17. so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18. will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth

19. of the Love of Christ, and to know this Love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

21. to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Warrior of The Word - Ephesians 6:20

 

Ephesians 6:20

For which I am an 

ambassador in chains:

that therein I may 

speak boldly,

as I ought to speak.

    "Lord, help us to speak boldly, to proclaim Your Name and Your gospel fearlessly. Not pridefully, nor even tauntingly, for both of those would be evil and not only would we lose our hearers and damn their souls to hell, we would be right there with them. 

    "You give us words to speak when we need to speak them. Unless You open our mouths to share Your gospel, let our words be few. Amen."

    Speaking the gospel message of salvation requires faithfulness and obedience on our part:

     Faithfulness in prayer, whether we are alone or amongst friends. [Matthew 6:6; Acts 4:29-31].

     Faithfulness in joyful service to our God. [Ephesians 6:7]

    Obedience to God's Word, knowing that our obedience brings fruitfulness in our works for God. [Proverbs 21:3] 

    In 1 Samuel 15:22, disobedience cut down King Saul's spiritual tree, causing him to be unfruitful for God. He disobeyed God's Word regarding the captivity of oxen and cattle during a battle. With this understanding we can see the opposite side of this example: obedience brings fruitfulness. 

    Speaking the gospel message of salvation requires stamina: enduring strength and perseverance. We are able to speak boldly this message of love and grace through Christ because we are not alone: we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses [Hebrews 12:1]. Some of these have gone before us, walking this same fearless path, who now watch from the other side of eternity, and some walk among us even now. 

    We are not afraid to speak boldly because we are not alone. We are never alone; therefore, we are never afraid. As Scripture reminds us, "God is with us. We will not be afraid." [Hebrews 13:5, 6] So, we speak boldly this gospel message of hope and peace. 

    We speak to you because we can't help ourselves. We want you to know Jesus Christ for yourselves: we want you to know there's a better way to live this life we have been given. We are compelled by God's Holy Spirit to urge you to give your hearts and lives to His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ.

    WHO WAS:

Genesis 3:15

Foretold to break the power of sin 

Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6/Luke 2:1-7

Born in a manger in Bethlehem

 Matthew 4:17            

Preaching the gospel of repentance

Isaiah 53; Philippians 2:7, 8; John 19:1-37

Tortured and killed

John 19:38-42; John 20; Matthew 28:1-15                    

Buried and Risen

Acts 1:3; Luke 24:36; John 20:19, 20; 27-29; 1 Corinthians 15:1-7; Luke 24:13-49

Alive after death for forty days 

    WHO IS:

Revelation 1:18

Alive forevermore  

Acts 1:6-11

Ascended to heaven

Mark 14:62; Psalm 110:1; Luke 22:69; Hebrews 1:3 & 12:2; Ephesians 1:18-23

Seated at God's right hand  

John 14:2, 3; Matthew 25:34

Preparing a place for us 

    WHO IS TO COME:

Matthew 25:31 

Sign of The Son of Man seen

Revelation 1:7; Mark 13:26

Coming in glory

Daniel 7:13, 14

Everlasting Kingdom

Revelation 22:12

Coming quickly

    Have I not spoken boldly the gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Only One Who can save souls by such a foundation as faith in His Name? I do not speak The Name of Christ to scare you into salvation, but to love you into salvation in His Name. Because God is Love and desires you and I to love Him in return. God sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross in our place, to give us new life in Him, for He is The Resurrection and The Life Eternal, Whom God has sent to save all who will believe. 

    Do you believe?

      

                                             

Warrior of The Word - Ephesians 6:19

 

Ephesians 6:19

And pray for me, that words may be given to me,

that I may open my mouth boldly,

to make known the mystery of the gospel.

    That words may be given to me. Which words? Words of hope. Words of grace. Words of mercy. Words of love. Words of wisdom. Words of Truth. Words of Peace.  Words of Life. Words that will be heard, and, hopefully, received. Words which The Spirit of God places within the hearts of the speakers: To make known the mystery of the gospel.

    WORDS OF HOPE

     Philippians 1:20, 21

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

    Titus 2:13

We await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

    WORDS OF GRACE

    Titus 2:11, 12

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. 

    Romans 5:15

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many!

    WORDS OF MERCY

    Luke 1:50

His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.

    Matthew 5:7

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

    WORDS OF LOVE

    1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 

    John 3:16, 17

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

    WORDS OF WISDOM

    Proverbs 11:30

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

    Proverbs 2:1-22

The Benefits of Wisdom

    WORDS OF TRUTH

    Psalm 85:11

Truth shall spring out of the earth; and Righteousness shall look down from heaven.

    John 3:14, 15

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so The Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.

    John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life. No one comes to The Father except through Me."

    WORDS OF PEACE

    Colossians 3:15

And let The Peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

    John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

    WORDS OF LIFE

    1 John 5:11, 12

And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  Whoever has The Son has life; whoever does not have The Son of God does not have life.

    John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I Am The Resurrection, and The Life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

    

    WORDS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

    2 Corinthians 2:17

For we are not like so many others, who peddle The Word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God. 

    Colossians 1:25-27

I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you The Word of God, the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 

    Matthew 10:20

For it will not be you speaking, but The Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

    2 Samuel 23:2

The Spirit of The LORD spoke through me; His Word was on my tongue. 

    Revelation 22:17

And The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whosoever desires, let him take The Water of Life freely.

    

    

     

     

Warrior of The Word - Ephesians 6:18

 

Ephesians 6:18

Praying always with all prayer and

supplication in The Spirit,

and watching thereunto with all 

perseverance and supplications for all saints.

PRAYING ALWAYS

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray without ceasing.

ALL PRAYER & SUPPLICATION

Philippians 4:6

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication (request, petition) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

IN THE SPIRIT

Romans 8:26

In the same way, The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

WATCHING THEREUNTO

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

ALL PERSEVERANCE

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.

SUPPLICATIONS FOR ALL SAINTS

2 Thessalonians 1:11

To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith.

Ephesians 1:16-21

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, That The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of glory, may give unto you The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is The Hope of His Calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. 

    This last passage in Ephesians 1:16-21 is an ideal prayer to pray over all of God's lost sheep. Praying the Scriptures over our families and churches and everyone else is easier than you think. When praying for one person at a time, just use their name. When praying for multiple, I just use the group names: family unto the millennial generations, friends, acquaintances, strangers and enemies. For example, beginning in verse 16 the prayer could read, "I have not stopped praying for ______, remembering him or her in my prayers. That The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Father of glory, may give _______ The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of Him." 

    So what have I prayed for this person (or people) here? I'm praying for their salvation, that they would be rooted and grounded in The Word of God so steadfastly, that they would be immovable when push comes to shove in their relationship with Christ. 

    I am praying that this person (or people(, would understand what they are learning about God and Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit. That they would know The Hope of His Calling (salvation and faith in The Name Jesus Christ) and the riches of His glory, His inheritance: 2 Timothy 1:9 "He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began."

    I am praying that this person (or people) would know the great power of God in sending His Son to die on the cross bearing the weight of every sin across His shoulders, in effect becoming sin and then, taking the punishment for the sins upon Him. Though He Himself had never sinned, He chose to take our punishing torturous death that we might have forgiveness and newness of Life Eternal in Him. 

    ~If the one reading this study is not saved, born again through faith in Christ Jesus, these prayers are being prayed over you. ~

    This is my weapon, wielded in the Love of God, which I have raised against all ungodliness, unrighteousness, unholiness, unloving, unmerciful, ungrateful, evil spirits who attack God's people and the people God is calling back to Him. Prayer like this takes hold of the throne of mercy and intercedes on these people's behalf for their salvation, them to be Spirit-filled, and joining we who believe on The Name of The Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation, in the service of our God in His kingdom. 

    Let us pray together even now for every lost sheep to come home; for every saint to be resolved and resolute in taking a stand for Christ; for the love of God to be evident in our daily lives, that our witness of The Testimony might be believed by those whom we interact with. 

Warrior of The Word - Ephesians 6:17

 

Ephesians 6:17

And take the helmet of salvation, 

and the sword of The Spirit, 

which is The Word of God. 

OUR HELMET

    I love hats. Anyone who knows me knows that about me. And while I do own a couple of straw sunhats, I love the floppy cloth ones, too. I like to decorate hats with lots of flowers and ribbons. I'll wear them anywhere, as long as I know the wind won't blow said hat off of my head. But this helmet of salvation is different. This helmet only leaves my head if I take it off. I'm not taking it off. Ever. 

    The helmet of salvation is knowledge of The Word of God. It is knowing Who God Is and Who God's Son is and Who God's Spirit is. We contemplate The Word of God with our thoughts and meditate on (pray over and think about) The Word of God with both our minds and our hearts at the same time. 

    Paul, in writing to the church in Thessalonia, a city in Macedonia, speaks of this helmet as being our hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:8), wherein we have the head and heart knowledge of our salvation, yet we have not received what we now hope for. But we do believe that we have it, for it has been promised us. 

    Doubt is a fiery dart that can pierce a person's armor. If is a fiery dart that can pierce a person's armor. We need to be fully equipped and armed in order to repel the fiery darts which are thrown with deft speed in our direction. 1 Peter 1:3-5 reiterates the blessing of this hope:

3. Blessed be The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a Living Hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4. and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,

5. who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

    

OUR SWORD

    1 Thessalonians 3:17

And we continually thank God because, when you received The Word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, The Word of God, which is also now at work in you who believe. 

    John 1:1

In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God. 

    John 6:63

The Spirit gives Life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are Life. 

    Hebrews 4:12

For The Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

    The Word of God proceeds from the mouth of God - Isaiah 55:11. The Spirit of God is the breath of God, the wind of God, the fire of God. He goes where God sends Him and He accomplishes God's purpose wherever He goes. - Jeremiah 1:12; Psalm 147:15; Acts 2:2, 3; Psalm 33:6; Job 33:4

    The Word of God is food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, life to the dying. 

- Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; John 7:39; Matthew 5:6; John 6:48

    The Word of God is in our hands when we take up our Bibles to open them, read the words within them and study this Word out with the help, the aid, of God's Holy Spirit. It is impossible to really know The Word without having The Spirit to lead and reveal Him to us. 

    The Word of God is written on our hearts when we believe in The Name of The Only Begotten Son of God for our salvation. Jeremiah 31:33 & Hebrews 8:10

    The Word of God is heard in our ears when we hear the words being read or spoken to us. - Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:2

    Those who have not The Holy Spirit of God filling their spiritual lives will find it impossible to hold onto, much less interpret correctly, The Word of God for themselves. They are an unholy and unrighteous people and The Word of God will be heavy in their hands, but not their hearts. Without the helmet attached firmly by their faith in Christ Jesus for their salvation, neither The Sword nor The Spirit will be given them until they claim Him for their own Savior. 

    And  we pray that all whom we pray for will believe that Jesus Christ Is Lord. And we pray for them to have and live Spirit-filled lives, that we may all rejoice together in our salvation when we all get to heaven to live eternally with Jesus and God and The Spirit. 

    

Names of Christ - AGAPAO - The Beloved One

 

AGAPAO

(pronounced ä-gä-pä'-ō) (ah-gah-PAH-oh)

THE BELOVED ONE

Ephesians 1:5, 6

He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,  to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in The Beloved One.

Matthew 3:17 and 17:5; Mark 1:11; Colossians 1:13

And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased!”