Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- The Spirit

 1 Thessalonians 5:19

Quench not the Spirit.

*Strong's Ex. Con. No. 4570

Quench: extinguish, suppress, thwart

To put out the fire.

It is impossible to accomplish the task(s) which God has given us without the guidance of His Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:12 "We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." In Revelation 22:17 the Spirit and the Bride are calling the lost souls to repentance together, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." 

No one can give us what only God can give us. And that includes His Holy Spirit. Matthew 25:8 "And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves." The oil is the Holy Spirit. We must have Him with us when Christ returns for His church. We cannot share Him, the anointing which God gives each of us individually, with each other. Acts 2:3 "And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them." He will leave this earth, when we leave this earth. 

Who is the Holy Spirit? 

He is the Spirit who helped create the world from the beginning. Genesis 1:2 "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

He is the Spirit which guided the hearts, the mouths and the hands of the men who wrote, put into print, the Holy Scriptures. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Peter 1:20, 21 "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

He is the Interpreter. 1 Corinthians 2:13 "And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words."

He is the Comforter. {*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3875 Consoler, Helper.}

John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and will bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you." John 16:7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you."

He is the baptism of Godly power. Acts 1:5, 8 "For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” "But you will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you, and you will be witnesses for Me, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth."

He is the convictor of sin. John 16:8-11 "And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned." 

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3076

Grieve: distress, vex, cause to sorrow, to experience deep emotional pain, 

How do we quench the Holy Spirit? By not listening to Him. Ephesians 4:30 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Isaiah 63:10 "But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them." By insulting Him. Hebrews 10:29 "How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?"

Don't put out the Holy Spirit of God. Listen to Him and follow His lead. Let Him lead us to the cross, to the garden and into the eternal presence of God. 

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- More Than Gratitude

 1 Thessalonians 5:18

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2168

acknowledging that "God's grace works well," i.e. for our eternal gain and His glory; to give thanks – literally, "thankful for God's good grace."

I love that definition. So much more than gratitude. More than a simple whispered, "Thank You." It is to say, "THANK YOU, GOD, FOR SAVING ME BY YOUR GRACE. For LOVING ME BEYOND WHAT I CAN EXPRESS. THANK YOU GOD, FOR YOUR MERCIES ON ME. THANK YOU GOD, FOR MEETING MY NEEDS WHEN I COULDN'T."

It is the expression of thankfulness which the Samaritan leper gave Jesus when Jesus healed him. Luke 17:16 "When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan." 

Of the ten leprotic men, nine were happy to be healed, but only one was overjoyed and ran back to the One Who had healed them, falling down at Jesus' feet and worshiping Him. In Luke 17:19 Jesus tells him, "Then Jesus said to him, “ Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole.” It was the man's faith in God, in the Word spoken by The WORD, that made him whole, complete. It was this faith that brought him running back to Jesus to give Him thanks. Being more than healed, he was filled with more than just a simple, Thank you, but THANK YOU, LORD!

It is more than gratitude, it is abundant gratitude, overwhelming gratitude. It is a thankfulness that cannot be measured by mere words but must be accompanied by thankful actions. 

Saying grace at mealtimes is more than thanking God for the food; it is THANKING GOD FOR HIS ABUNDANT BLESSINGS. Even when we have but a little on our plate. Even when we have nothing. We are THANKING GOD IN FAITH FOR HIS PROVISION. 

Even when we know what is about to happen to us, we BLESS GOD, we THANK GOD, for more than the meal that is at hand. In Mark 14:22-25 Jesus institutes the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine in remembrance of Him. It symbolizes the breaking of His body, when He was tortured and nailed to the cross and the pouring out of His blood, which would be shed for the sins of the whole world (from Adam and Eve to the last man or woman who would believe in the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST for their salvation).

Mark 14:22-25

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is My body. And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And He said unto them, This is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. " (cf. Matthew 26:26-29; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

And why are to we to GIVE THANKS in such a way? Because it is GOD'S WILL FOR US IN CHRIST JESUS. Many a seeker has asked, What is God's will for me, for my life? Well, here is one part of God's Will for our lives: A HEART FILLED WITH OVERFLOWING FAITH IN GOD'S GRACE. 

Only a born again believer can offer this thanks, for that person is IN CHRIST JESUS and CHRIST JESUS IS IN US. Though God's will is for everyone, not everyone will want to live it; therefore, they cannot give thanks to God for His grace. 

Overflowing THANKS TO GOD comes from a heart that believes in the GRACE which GOD has offered through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. He Who died on the cross, rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of the Father died for you and for me. All we have to do is believe this. Speak what we believe out loud for all to hear and we are now IN CHRIST and CHRIST IS IN US. (John 17:20, 21)

As Paul writes to the church in Galatia, Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

Hallelujah! Praise The Lord! Rejoice! How can we not have a Thankful spirit? Our hearts should be doing cartwheels, jumping for joy; it's that smile on our faces that reaches to our eyes. JESUS CHRIST LIVES and HE LIVES IN ME! 

HE LIVES 

by Alfred H. Ackley

(1)

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today

I know that He is living, whatever men may say

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer

And just the time I need Him He's always near.

--chorus--

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart!

(2)

In all the world around me I see His loving care

And though my heart grows weary I never will despair

I know that He is leading, through all the stormy blast

The day of His appearing will come at last!

--chorus--

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart!

(3)

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian Lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King

The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find

None other is so loving, so good and kind!

--chorus--

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart!

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Pray Unceasingly

 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray without ceasing.

*Strong's Exhaustive Conc. No. 4336

PRAY: to interact with the Lord by switching human ideas for His own as He imparts faith {divine persuasion} (to us) 

By this definition we see that prayer requires faith and submission to God's will. For in order for my ideas, my thoughts, of what I am praying for to be exchanged for God's desire, I must submit to His Authority, His will, in everything. And I must submit with faith, believing that God will act on my prayer, even if what I am praying for doesn't turn out exactly as I wanted, but exactly as He wants. 

Ephesians 6:18

Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.

Luke 21:36

Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

*Strong's Exh. Conc. No. 89

WITHOUT CEASING: incessantly; without any unnecessary interval (no gap); uninterruptedly

This is not impossible. A prayer warrior prays at all times of the day throughout his or her day. It is not that they drop what they are doing and kneel somewhere, but the prayer asked for is merely added to the prayers already being prayed internally. Yes, sometimes our lips move and people think we're either talking to ourselves or that we're crazy. 

There are some prayer warriors who not only pray in this way, but also have set times in which they just spend time in prayer with our Lord waiting for His response(s). 

Daniel 6:10

Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

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 the True Word of God—the Word which is now at work in you who believe.

Romans 12:12

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

We, the Spiritual Warrior, come to God in prayer, believing He will answer even before we call on His name. 

Isaiah 55:24

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Jeremiah 33:3

Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not.

We believe God answers the prayers of His people because He hears our prayers. 

1 John 5:15, 16

And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.

Psalm 145:19

He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.

Matthew 7:7

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

Ephesians 3:12

In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.

So, let us who are of the day, pray unceasingly for God's will to be accomplished; not only in us, but in in the hearts and lives of they whom we are praying for. 

 

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Rejoice Always

 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Rejoice evermore.

*Strong's No 5463

REJOICE: to delight in God's grace; to experience God's grace (favor); to be consciously glad of God's grace

One cannot unconsciously rejoice, nor can a person subconsciously rejoice in God's grace. We must be cognate, aware, of God's grace. For we cannot obtain what we cannot even be aware of. 

It is why so many die in their sins. If they are not aware they are sinners, then they cannot be saved; especially after death. We must realize in this life we are given that not only God Is, but that God Is Savior. That He is Savior through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, through the blood which Christ shed on the cross, which takes away the sins of the world: John 1:29 "The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and says, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world."

Realization of this as fact must come through an awareness of wrongdoing, which is followed by repentance (a confession of and turning away from sins). Then our hearts are filled with God's grace and we begin to live a disciplined, godly lifestyle.   

Philippians 4:4

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

Psalm 37:4

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 94:19

In the multitude of my thoughts within me (anxieties, cares) Your comforts delight my soul.

Psalm 104:34

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Always. Evermore. At all times. Regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves, we are to rejoice in the Lord. Our joy must begin in God and be fulfilled by God. Without a relationship with God there can be no joy, no reason to rejoice. But in God, in His name, in His character, in His power we can have joy. It helps us to think on God's Word, thereby getting into our thoughts. It helps us to read God's Word, getting it into our hearts. We must believe God's Word is Faithful & True, that the Holy Spirit may be able to bring it to our lips to speak God's Word God's Power with God's Love. 

2 Corinthians 6:10

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Matthew 5:12

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

We will know sorrow, pain and grief in this life. We will suffer for our faith. Some of us will die for what we believe. Yet, we are rejoicing. Joy is not an opposite of sorrow, it complements it. When we know what we know what we know, we can truly Rejoice! in the Lord for we are confident that He will keep His promises. For God cannot lie. 

As Job has said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain (prove) mine own ways before Him." (Job 13:15) 

We are confident that our testimony, our faith in our Redeemer, Who has purchased us with His own blood, will stand as our witness when we are judged by God. 

If you have not this confidence, there is still time. Even now, your heart tells you that what I speak of God's Word is True. Even now, the Holy Spirit convicts your hearts and you feel a pinch in your spirit. May you surrender your hearts and your lives to Jesus Christ as the Word flows over you, may it also enter you. 

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Blessing Our Enemies

 1 Thessalonians 5:15

Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people. 

Vengeance Is Mine
Proverbs 20:22

Do not say, "I will avenge this evil!" Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.

Romans 12:19

Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God's wrath. For it is written: "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord."

Deuteronomy 32:35

"Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly."

Love Our Neighbors (The Good Samaritan)

Leviticus 19:18

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Luke 10:25-37

One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.”

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side.

But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’

Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

“The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law.

Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Our neighbors are everyone everywhere, not just living next door. 

Bless Our Enemies

1 Peter 3:9

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Matthew 5:44

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Proverbs 25:21

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

Luke 6:27, 28

But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Romans 12:20

Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: for in so doing you shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

The closer we are to Christ in our relationship with Him, the easier you would think this might be. But we are still human and our flesh will rise up, or try to rise up. When? When petty things happen, even good Christians let words fly out of our mouths because at that moment an enemy's dart has gotten through our armor.

• When we've 'had enough'
• When we get cut off on the road
• When we lose our temper
• When we are offended

Repent. Stop in the middle of our sentences if we have to and ask forgiveness from the other person if we can. Let the forgiveness of God wash over us, gaining strength for the moment. And move ahead. 

But what about when not so petty things happen? Let's say someone brings a weapon into your safe place. A stranger or someone we know brandishes a gun in your face: what are you going to do? Are we ready to stand and deliver our confession of faith? Our weapon is our Love in Christ. Is our life more important than that person's soul? It shouldn't be. 

John 12:24, 25

Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

John 13:34

A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Speaking Words of Wisdom

 1 Thessalonians 5:14

And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

Admonish: warn, counsel, exhort; to caution or reprove gently

Colossians 3:16

Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (words of warning, caution)

For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies. We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living."

Encourage: to comfort, to console

John 11:19

And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

John 11:21-25

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask of Him.”

“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her. Martha replied, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Help: to hold firmly to, to hold against, 

Titus 1:9

He must hold firmly to the faithful Word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.

2 Timothy 1:13

Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Job 27:6

My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

Patient: persevere, am forbearing, suffer long

1 Corinthians 13:4

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

How we talk to one another is just as important as what we say to each other. 

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Submission To Each Other & Leadership

 

1 Thessalonians 5:12

But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.

They Who Work With Us

1 Corinthians 15, 16

You know that Stephanas and his household were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Now I urge you, brothers, to submit to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. 

1 Corinthians 12:28

And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

They Who Preside Over Us

1 Timothy 5:17

Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 

Hebrews 13:17

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

1 Peter 5:5

Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

Humility and submission are rare in these days. But more than ever absolutely necessary. Humbleness is refusing to put ourselves first; it is an unselfish, selfless, attitude in life towards everyone and everything. 

Humility is acknowledging that without God we are nothing. A humble spirit is not a weak spirit. In point of fact, humility in ourselves is strength. 

Our first priority of a humble heart is to submit ourselves to God, to His Authority. To surrender our hearts and our lives to Jesus Christ as Savior of our souls and Lord of our lives. 

After that we willingly submit in love to the Christians who work with us in God's fields, field where humble works are vitally needed. Matthew 9:36-38 (36) "When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (37) Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. (38)Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”

Let us be workers of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ; sharing Him with everyone around us. And as we surrender ourselves to the work with which our God has laid on us, may we work with joy as we submit to one another in love. 

Ephesians 5:21 "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." And again in Galatians 5:17 "For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love." 

Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves." 

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Sharpening Iron

 

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.

*Strong's Exhaustive Concordance #3870

Encourage: (1) to call to one's side (2) believers offering evidence that will stand up in God's court (3) legal advocate (4) beg, entreat, comfort, console, exhort

Encourage One Another

Hebrews 3:13

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 10:25

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.

*Strong's Exhaustive Concordance #3619

Edify/Edification: (1) the act of building (2) spiritual advancement (3) constructive criticism and instruction that builds a person up to be the suitable dwelling place of God, i.e. where the Lord is "at home."

Build One Another Up

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Ephesians 4:29

Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Romans 14:19

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

1 Corinthians  14:3

But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Watch & Pray

1 Thessalonians 5:10

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.

HE DIED FOR US

Matthew 20:28

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

 

John 10:11

I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

WATCH & PRAY

 To be awake in this dark, and getting darker, world is to be watching and praying, in the night, through the dark hours. 

To be awake in the light in this dark world is to be serving the Lord with joy and wisdom. It is a joy that emanates from our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Psalm 119:148

My eyes anticipate the watches of night, that I may meditate on Your word.

Psalm 63:6

When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night.

Psalm 119:55

In the night, O LORD, I remember Your name, that I may keep Your law.

 Matthew 26:41

"Watch and pray, that you do not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the flesh weak."

 

1 Thessalonians 15, 17

By the Word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. 

After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

2 Timothy 2:11

This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us. 

ALIVE WITH CHRIST 

Romans 14:8, 9

If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

For this reason Christ died and returned to life, that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Sobriety, Faith, Love, Hope

 

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Believers Belong To The Day

1 Thessalonians 5:5

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

The Day of The LORD

Prophetic Verses 

Zechariah 1:7-18

Malachi 4:1-6 (refers to both Christ's first coming and His second)

2 Peter 3:8-13

Be Sober

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3525

free from illusion, i.e. from the intoxicating influences of sin (like the impact of selfish passion, greed, etc.)

refers to having presence of mind (clear judgment), enabling someone to be temperate (self-controlled); means to have "one's wits (faculties) about them," which is the opposite of being irrational.

To watch, To be alert, To be vigilant in all things and at all times.

2 Timothy 4:5

1 Peter 1:13

1 Peter 4:7

1 Peter 5:8

The Breastplate of Faith & Love

Being a spiritual covering, we learn that it covers our spiritual heart, protecting us from the temptations of the enemy of our souls. 

This Breastplate consists of Living by Faith, Walking by Faith; Having the Love of God in us through Christ, Speaking words of Love with Love. 

FAITH

Hebrews 11:1  

Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

The Just Live By Faith

Romans 1:17

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 3:11

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Habakkuk 2:4

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

The Just Walk By Faith

2 Corinthians 5:7, 8

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

LOVE

1 John 4:7-10

Living In Love

1 John 4:11-21

John 13:34

1 Peter 1:22

Romans 12:10

SALVATION

Our helmet, which is fixed securely to our spiritual heads, gives us defence against the tactics of our the enemy of our souls. Having the Word of God firmly planted in our thoughts prevents the wiliness of the his strategies from reaching us. When we know the Word of God, we also know and become aware of how the devil works against us. Knowing our enemy from this advantage point helps us in our times of temptations and troubles to turn to God and His Word to keep us from being prey, but instead makes us the victor in every encounter. And there are many encounters throughout our lives; day in and day out.

HOPE of SALVATION

Romans 8:19, 24

 For the earnest expectation of the creation awaits the revelation of the sons of God. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

1 Peter 1:3-5

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, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. 

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.

Titus 3:5-7

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

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.

 

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Our Helmet and Our Sword

 

Ephesians 6:17

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

The Helmet of Salvation

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.

Psalm 140:7

O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You shield my head in the day of battle.

Psalm 27:1

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

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 trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! 

 In order to wear the Helmet of Salvation we have to be born again believers, faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

The Sword of The Spirit

Hebrews 4:12

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.

Jeremiah 23:29

"Is not My word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that smashes a rock?"

The Word of God

Psalm 119:105

Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path.

Jeremiah 15:16

Thy Words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

John 1:1. 14

In the beginning was THE WORD, and THE WORD was with God, and THE WORD was God.

And THE WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

And in order to carry the Sword of the Spirit, The Word of God, we have to know the Word of God before we can speak it earnestly and sincerely, with love and compassion towards the hearers of the Word of God.

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Peter 1:10

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 

That Bible sitting on your shelf needs to be opened and read, read with understanding. But if we want to understand the Word of God when we read it and study it, we need not only to be born again believers, but Spirit-filled born again believers. Once we have the two basic tools required (Salvation through Jesus Christ and being filled with The Spirit) to advance in our understanding and knowledge of the Word, then and only then can we reach the next step of preparation in becoming an effective and fervent Spiritual Warrior. 

 

Intelligent Worship -- Thank God -- Part 8

 Intelligent Worship brings us into the presence of God. Part 8.

While I am writing these at the rate of one a day, you who get these in an email will only receive one per week; so as not to overwhelm. Should you choose to read binge them, they're here.

Thanking God is something believers do every day throughout our day. It is not reserved for a set time nor a set day. We do not wait until the calendar rolls around to the third Thursday of November (here in the US of A). 

We are thankful when we wake up, even before our eyes open or we rise up to greet the new day given us. We have thankful hearts for the mercies of God in our everyday lives. But most of all, like many other born again Christians around this globe, we are thankful for God's neverending grace.

We are thankful that God has chosen us to be His, that we accepted His offer of grace through His Son Jesus Christ, and that now He sends us out to spread/share this same gospel of grace with other people who need to hear and receive it just like we needed to hear and receive it.

2 Corinthians 2:14

But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

Romans 6:16-18

Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? 

But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Being thankful to God is God's will for His people. It is impossible to be angry when we're thanking God. It's like biting one's own face. Impossible.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

The words we speak and the actions we take in any given situation, whether at home, at work, at school; in public, in private, unspoken are to be undertaken in the Name of the Lord Jesus, thanking God for one more opportunity to represent Him and share His grace with those around us.

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 

Is this easy? No. Can we do it? Yes. If we remember to not allow ourselves to be so easily frustrated with the world around us. Even if others cannot hear us, God can. Even if others do not see us, God can. We are accountable to God for how we think and how we behave. And while we are not accountable to the world, we are held accountable to each other for how we represent Christ to the world. 

When We All Get To Heaven

 

WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN

     For those of you that don't already know, my Mother passed away on June 13 from leukemia. She was diagnosed in January and chose to fight until she had no fight left in her. I am not sad. I know where she is. She's at Jesus' feet basking in His glory! 

     The song "When We All Get To Heaven" takes on greater meaning when someone you love gets there before you do. And while she's not the first one I've loved and lost here, nor is she the last, she's my Mother. And I love her. 

     So if I have any crying left to do, it's for myself. I won't get to hear her voice any more. I won't get to hear her laughter here any more. I won't get to text her every night and anticipate her responses. I won't get to visit her any more. But that's okay.

     Because as long as I remain in Christ and Christ remains in me, my Mother is also near because she was a born again believer as well. She lives in Christ Jesus and He lives in her. I live in Christ Jesus and He lives in me. No, she isn't here. She's only "sleeping in Christ". 

     1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

• Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. 
• For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
• For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
• For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
• Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord.
• Therefore encourage one another with these words.

     We sang two of her favorite songs at her beautiful Memorial Service:

IN THE GARDEN 

and 

I'LL FLY AWAY 

     Every one who loves the Scriptures has a favorite verse. My Mother was no exception. She loved Ephesians 2:8-10. 

• For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
• Not of works, lest any man should boast.
• For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has before ordained (prepared) that we should walk in them.

And she was fascinated with the last days leading up to Christ's return.

In addition to her nightly Bible reading, she was also reading Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins' Are We Living In The End Times prophecy research book. 

She loved the book of Revelations and had read it several times in the last year or so. But it was Matthew 24:27-36 that grabbed ahold of her prayer life. She was at the same time both excited about the coming events and fearful for her family members who had not yet accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. 

 

     That's why she chose to fight the cancer, even though it took everything she had. She wanted her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren to be with her and Jesus. The fields of labor into which God had lastly placed her needed lots of loving attention. But in the end it was God's will to bring her into her heavenly home. It was not her lot to beat the cancer, but to overcome it. But her prayers will not go unanswered. As long as someone answers the call to salvation which God the Father has proffered through God the Son by the power of God the Holy Spirit. 

     Believe God. Trust in God. Obey God's Word. Love God's people. Feed God's sheep. Water God's planting. Harvest God's fields. And then go home to God's home. 

     The KJV of the Bible was her favorite, so that version of Matthew 24:27-36 is what I am using. 

•  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
• For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
• Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
• And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
• And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
• Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
• So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
• Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
• Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
• But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

I know this passage filled her with anticipation because she sent it to me twice. At a later date I will write about our chat life. I never deleted it, so I have a couple years worth of Scripture sharing to write out. Until then.