Have you ever gone to write an exam and realized you forgot to buy your pen? Can you imagine the panic that would cause?
Can you go into a battle unprepared and expect to win? That, my friend, is madness. Many christians are fighting without their swords. Some misplaced theirs. While some never had theirs.
We are continually engaging in battles.
The Word of God rightly says "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this worlds, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph 6:12
I must confess that when I first got born again, I was told that that was the end of the long fight between the devil and I to send me to hell and that Jesus had already won the battle. And that everything would be rosy from then on. Halleluya!!! I shouted "Amen" with so much joy.
So amazing to hear that I would not 'struggle' any more.
Was I deceived? Yes! Because in fact, from the moment you decide to take a stand for God, the enemy will not be pleased with you at all. He has just lost a soul and he would do just about anything to get that soul back.
So while you scream halleluya and go to bed, he is plotting his next move.
But why do you think the bible says "be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" 1 Peter 5:8?
That is his aim. He seeks to devour.
Friends, brothers and sisters, we must not be ignorant of his devices. Christianity is not a walk in the park like you think. That is the reason why we have people who have been Christians for many years still struggling with milk. They can't chew bread, they will choke. Meat? Don't even go there. They will require resuscitation. It is what I call "spiritual kwashiokor", but that is a matter for another day.
Just like any other battle, spiritual battles must be prepared for. You must have your weapons and armour.
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.....stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" Eph 6:11-17 KJV
I would love to talk about all the elements of the whole armour of God, but I want to focus on the sword of the Spirit.
The sword is the weapon of warfare that is used to pierce the enemy during battle. This weakens the enemy and ensures that he would have to nurse his wounds for a while.
How can you then go to battle without your sword, child of God, seeing as it is so important?
The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. It is not enough to read your bible sometimes, or when you feel like. You must have it in you, ready to use it as the slightest opportunity. But you can not use what you don't have.
When the enemy tells you you can't succeed, you tell him you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Aha! You just shut him up.
When he tries to remind you of your past sins and tells you his famous lie that you can't come before God, you tell him you can go boldly to the throne of grace. You tell him "there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH." Romans 8:1. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." 2cor5:17
You know what you have just done? You have pierced him where it really hurts.
So many christians come to church without a bible. And if we want to be honest, most don't even open the bibles until we get to church, if we do go to church.
Some may argue the need to take a bible to church when the verses would be displayed on the church screens or written in pamphlets. I know a man who told his wife that she should not read her bible because she would get confused and that the verses she needs for each Sunday would already be included in d church pamphlet/missal. Wow!
Do you know that searching your bible for scriptures helps you to know your bible more?
The Bereans in the bible were known because they would always go back and research all that they were taught. You must realize that even pastors make mistakes sometimes. When you go back and study the word for yourself, you will not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. Read the word for yourself.
Dear friends, study the word of God, read it, eat it, chew it, meditate upon it day and night. Joshua 1:8
For when the enemy strikes, you may not have the time and patience to go through your bible trying to locate scriptures that you have no clue about in the first place.
There is a word for every situation we may face.
Let us get to know our bibles more. Let's get familiar with the scriptures.
For the Word is living. And the Word is God.
Perhaps, you don't know where to start from. It's alright. You can decide to use a devotional with a well laid plan on how to study your bible. Or you can decide to go book by book. It is an exciting journey.
You may know the word, but it has lost its meaning and power to you, or it was just something you memorized without understanding.
Remember that the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword. Heb 4:12
The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. Invite the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of the Word. He is ever willing to teach. You cannot do this on your own. That is why Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to help us.
Dear brothers and sisters, let's get the dust off our bibles and go on an adventure with the Word.
You can thank me later because I know you will be glad you did. :)
God bless you.
Can you go into a battle unprepared and expect to win? That, my friend, is madness. Many christians are fighting without their swords. Some misplaced theirs. While some never had theirs.
We are continually engaging in battles.
The Word of God rightly says "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this worlds, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph 6:12
I must confess that when I first got born again, I was told that that was the end of the long fight between the devil and I to send me to hell and that Jesus had already won the battle. And that everything would be rosy from then on. Halleluya!!! I shouted "Amen" with so much joy.
So amazing to hear that I would not 'struggle' any more.
Was I deceived? Yes! Because in fact, from the moment you decide to take a stand for God, the enemy will not be pleased with you at all. He has just lost a soul and he would do just about anything to get that soul back.
So while you scream halleluya and go to bed, he is plotting his next move.
But why do you think the bible says "be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" 1 Peter 5:8?
That is his aim. He seeks to devour.
Friends, brothers and sisters, we must not be ignorant of his devices. Christianity is not a walk in the park like you think. That is the reason why we have people who have been Christians for many years still struggling with milk. They can't chew bread, they will choke. Meat? Don't even go there. They will require resuscitation. It is what I call "spiritual kwashiokor", but that is a matter for another day.
Just like any other battle, spiritual battles must be prepared for. You must have your weapons and armour.
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.....stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" Eph 6:11-17 KJV
I would love to talk about all the elements of the whole armour of God, but I want to focus on the sword of the Spirit.
The sword is the weapon of warfare that is used to pierce the enemy during battle. This weakens the enemy and ensures that he would have to nurse his wounds for a while.
How can you then go to battle without your sword, child of God, seeing as it is so important?
The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit. It is not enough to read your bible sometimes, or when you feel like. You must have it in you, ready to use it as the slightest opportunity. But you can not use what you don't have.
When the enemy tells you you can't succeed, you tell him you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Aha! You just shut him up.
When he tries to remind you of your past sins and tells you his famous lie that you can't come before God, you tell him you can go boldly to the throne of grace. You tell him "there is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH." Romans 8:1. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." 2cor5:17
You know what you have just done? You have pierced him where it really hurts.
So many christians come to church without a bible. And if we want to be honest, most don't even open the bibles until we get to church, if we do go to church.
Some may argue the need to take a bible to church when the verses would be displayed on the church screens or written in pamphlets. I know a man who told his wife that she should not read her bible because she would get confused and that the verses she needs for each Sunday would already be included in d church pamphlet/missal. Wow!
Do you know that searching your bible for scriptures helps you to know your bible more?
The Bereans in the bible were known because they would always go back and research all that they were taught. You must realize that even pastors make mistakes sometimes. When you go back and study the word for yourself, you will not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. Read the word for yourself.
Dear friends, study the word of God, read it, eat it, chew it, meditate upon it day and night. Joshua 1:8
For when the enemy strikes, you may not have the time and patience to go through your bible trying to locate scriptures that you have no clue about in the first place.
There is a word for every situation we may face.
Let us get to know our bibles more. Let's get familiar with the scriptures.
For the Word is living. And the Word is God.
Perhaps, you don't know where to start from. It's alright. You can decide to use a devotional with a well laid plan on how to study your bible. Or you can decide to go book by book. It is an exciting journey.
You may know the word, but it has lost its meaning and power to you, or it was just something you memorized without understanding.
Remember that the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword. Heb 4:12
The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. Invite the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of the Word. He is ever willing to teach. You cannot do this on your own. That is why Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to help us.
Dear brothers and sisters, let's get the dust off our bibles and go on an adventure with the Word.
You can thank me later because I know you will be glad you did. :)
God bless you.
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