Get In The Herd

I hope some of you have blisters from wearing those new Gospel sandals so much.  Today we will talk a little about “the shield of faith”.  We probably all would say we have faith, but what kind of faith?  Is it a faith that would withstand the “fiery darts” of Satan?  Or is it more like a shield made of tissue paper?  I must admit there have been times when I didn’t even know where my shield was, just lost among the worries and cares of today or tomorrow. 

The Roman soldiers shield was made of tough leather.  It was able to fend off swords, spears, and yes even fiery darts.  In Paul’s day, like I am sure we all have seen in some movie, darts were dipped in a flammable substance and shot down at the enemy.  The soldiers shield could withstand those darts.  The shield also had another unique feature.  It was made so that it could be connected to another soldier’s shield, and another, to make one solid shield or wall to protect the group.  Let’s take two quick lessons for our faith from these shields.

First, can our faith stand the fiery darts?  Is it strong enough, or will Satan’s darts get into our minds and souls and start a wildfire that goes out of control?  I have allowed that to happen in my life in the past.  Maybe you have too?  How can we strengthen our faith to be strong enough?  I turn to Paul, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”(Romans 10:17)  We must study to gain that faith that will protect us when life and Satan come after us.

Secondly, we must stick together as Christians.  We are much stronger as a group than as individuals.  The Roman soldiers linked their shields.  We must link our lives, our faith.  “Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”(1 Peter 5:8)  Ever seen how a lion hunts on National Geographic or the Discovery Channel?  They don’t go after the herd.  It’s always the weak and hurting that they target.  Satan is waiting for us to step away, turn our backs, even for a moment, to “devour” us. 

Study; get back in the herd, for we know we have the Great Shepherd to protect us.

God Bless.

Gospel Sandals

“The shoes of the Gospel”, may be my favorite analogy of all.  There are so many things that this brings to mind.  Let’s first talk about the roman soldiers shoes would look like.  First of all they would be sandals.  They would be sandals with hobnails?  What’s a hobnail you ask?  I picture it as sandals with cleats on the bottom, of better yet nails.  Now why would the soldier need this?  They would help them to stand firm while being attacked or during an attack give solid footing.  Do you think these sandals might help us?  Are they especially helpful since they are of the Gospel?  I know they are.  We need to be able to stand firm against the attacks Satan throws at us each and every day.  “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).  That sounds like a pep talk before a battle to me.

I also love the second analogy with the shoes of the Gospel.  The Gospel is meant to go somewhere.  Shoes are made for walking and the Gospel is made for spreading.  Jesus tells us very plainly, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

So let’s put on our Gospel sandals and stand fast against Satan, but don’t stand still, get those gospel feet moving. 

“How beautiful upon the mountains
      Are the feet of him who brings good news,
      Who proclaims peace,
      Who brings glad tidings of good things,
      Who proclaims salvation,
      Who says to Zion,

      ‘Your God reigns!’”

            (Isaiah 52:7)

God Bless!

Heart Transplant

We must next put on the “breastplate of righteousness”.  This piece of armor was made of chain or metal that covered from neck to waist and not only the front but also the back of the warrior. 

Our spiritual breastplate is one of righteousness, which of course is our righteousness in Christ and our righteously lived life in and through Christ.  Paul explains this in 2 Corinthians 5:21.  “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Our breastplate is right over our hearts.  We must use the righteousness of God, through our daily walk with Christ to protect our hearts from the evil Satan tries to put there.  If we ever hive Satan the smallest foothold, then he will wait for the perfect time to attack.  Listen to Jesus here, “What comes out of a man that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Mark 7:20,21,23)

So what do we do to get our breastplate?  We need a heart transplant.  We need to have a heart and mind like Jesus.  Study, fill our hearts with the righteousness of God.

God bless!

Truth or Dare?

The Girdle of truth?  “Girded your loins with truth” (Ephesians 6:14).  Truth is hard to come by these days.  Many people would rather take the easy way out and just say whatever is convenient or popular.  That’s just not the way God would have us, as Christians act.  Paul tells us that if we are going to be able “to stand firm” then we are going to have to find that truth.  Where might we look you might ask.  I think we look no farther that God’s word and the words of Jesus in John. “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”  (3:21) “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (8:31-32) Guys don’t worry this is also translated as “belt” in some translations.  The belt or girdle of truth is what will hold the sword of the Spirit, but we are getting ahead of ourselves now.  So we must have truth to fight this battle.  God chose through Paul to put this first.  Maybe we need to have truth before we can go any further in our Christian battle. Will we gird ourselves with truth and God's Word or dare to go into the world without part of the armor God is offering us all? Let’s all pray for truth and seek to walk in truth and God’s light today. 

God Bless!

The Enemy

As Soldiers, in a battle, we must have an enemy right?  RIGHT.  "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)  Sounds pretty scary to me.  Like a lion.  Have you ever seen one of those shows where lions are hunting that poor gazelle?  Ever notice who the lion picks on?  It's always the weak or the sick or the one isolated.  Have you ever felt that way?  Spiritually weak?  Spiritually sick?  Isolated?  I have.  Jesus calls Satan a theif who comes "to steal and to kill and to destroy" (John 10:10).  We fight against the "wiles of the devil" and cannot afford to be ignorant of his devices". (2 Corinthians 2:11)  I am ready to rise up and fight.  I am ready to get strong, well and together.    Are you?  Wanna come with me?  Let's get rid of the "gazelle syndrome".  Hold on though.  Let's suit up!  God has a few things that can help us in the battle.

Next Time we will get our girdle.  :)  Yes guys a girdle.

Soldiers of Christ Arise

Sooner or later every believer discovers that the Christian life is more like a battleground than a playground.  We face enemies that will utterly destroy us, our lives and all those around us, except for the fact we have the one that has ALREADY won the victory, Jesus.  We are going to spemd the next few blogs talking about what Paul had to say about this battle we wage against the world, the flesh and the devil (Ephesians 2:1-3).  Paul uses the analogy of a soldier and the armor of God.  Paul knew about this since he was probably chained to one and was in prison when he wrote these words. (Ephesians 6:20)

When we meet again we will look more closely at the enemy.  All good soldiers must first size up the enemy they face!

God Bless!

"Me-ville"

"Me-ville" is a comfortable place.  It's all about me in me-ville.  I am the only car on the road and I am always the most important person in me-ville. It seems like paradise for a while, but me-ville can become a miserable and lonely place. 

Listen to James in James 4:1-3, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." That kinda sounds like me-ville gone wrong to me.  How can we exit off the highway to me-ville? 

This time lets listen to Paul as he writes to the Galatians, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)  Jesus is the exit.  He is the Way.

Let's all get off the Me-ville highway and get on THE WAY, Jesus.

God Bless

God's Glorious Word

Sometimes I think we should just let God speak for Himself through his Word.  From time to time I will have this for you to ponder, God's glorious Word.

1 Peter 2:9-10

 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
  “Once you had no identity as a people; 
      now you are God’s people.
   Once you received no mercy;
      now you have received God’s mercy.”

JESUS

When you feel lost remember Jesus is the Way.

When you question your faith remember Jesus is the Truth.

When you feel down hearted remember Jesus is the Life.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way , the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6)

Remember in all of life’s questions, the answer can be found in JESUS.

God Bless!