Colossians 3:1-17: Set your Affection on Things Above

 

 

Colossians 3:1-17: Set your Affection on Things Above 

(Originally posted in January 2021) I woke up this morning with the words, "Colossians 3:2" repeating in my head.  This lasted for several hours until I got out of bed.  I knew God wanted me to look up this scripture (as I am horrible at memorizing what verses are where), so as soon as I got up, I opened my Bible and read, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

My theme this month has been humility, and let me tell you, I was humbled by this verse!  Just yesterday I was complaining to my husband that it seems as if we are always struggling, nothing is ever easy, and blah, blah, blah, whine, whine, whine!

I know God was gently chastising me for my grumbling and reminding me to be thankful, number one, for my salvation and His amazing love! And then for my precious husband, and all the necessities of life that we do have.  My perception of lack and God's reality of lack are two entirely different things!  Materialism is not important; God's love is what matters most! 

To add to this message of learning to be grateful for my spiritual life and not to focus on the world, when I went to Bible Gateway a few minutes ago to copy and paste Colossians 3:2, Matthew 6:19-21 were their verses of the day, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Wow! That is no coincidence!

And here is a third confirmation from God on where He wants my focus to be.  When I logged into Facebook about an hour ago, the first thing that showed up in the home feed was a post with the lyrics, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." And I just happened to be listening to the music duo Shane and Shane at that exact same moment singing that exact same song!  I am not making this up!  God is beyond amazing!  

I realize I could easily turn this into a holiness message on not having affection for the world and its sinful pleasures but for Christ alone.  This is also very, very true, but for now, that is all I will say on that angle.  However, please read the first 17 verses of Colossians chapter 3 posted at the end of this writing and you can read a good holiness message written by the apostle Paul!

Short message today but I just want to dwell on praising God for His goodness!  As well as to encourage any of you who are also struggling to keep your eyes on Jesus because of circumstances or worldly distractions. To me and to you, let's shift our affections off of materialism and off all that is happening in the world right now and just praise the Lord for the beauty of His holiness! It is always only about the love of Jesus and not about what He can do for you. Love Him no matter what and no matter where.  Our treasures lie in eternity with Jesus and that means more than anything or anyone.

I am so deeply grateful to God for speaking to me today and reminding me to shift my focus off of what I do not have!  I love You, Lord; You are all I need, the air I breathe, the strength for my weakness, the light in the dark corners, and the joy in all things! 

(Colossians 3:1-17) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 

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. 

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  

Colossians 1:9: Advice on How to Help a Hurting Friend

 

Colossians 1:9: Advice on How to Help a Hurting Friend

 

(Originally posted in June 2018)

A woman named "Barbara" (not her real name) started working in the office around a week after I did.  I almost immediately felt a kinship with her in part to her friendly nature, in part to both of our prior law enforcement backgrounds, but mostly because she is a fellow believer.  

Barbara & I are both shy in nature and private people; we do not like to share personal information to those who are practically strangers.  Yet, one morning when we had a spare minute or two between tasks, she confided in me that due to depression, she struggles with issues of faith.  She feels as if her mind is a battlefield between Christ and Satan and she is painfully struggling not only to win the spiritual war, but also to understand why this is happening.  My heart went out to her, and I told her I fully believed she was indeed involved in spiritual warfare and quoted to her Ephesians 6:12 (For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.).  I also told her that we have a God that intercedes on our behalf and reminded her of Luke 22:31-32 (And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.").

Barbara also told me that the only time she ever heard the name of God or Jesus growing up, it was as a swear word.  I have no idea how long she has been a believer or any other personal details as she usually keeps up a pretty big wall.  I have done my best to encourage her, and I have been praying for her several times a day, but she still seems depressed.  I know part of her discouragement has to do with the fact that she is struggling to learn her new job, and she feels even worse when the bosses assign me the more complicated work and have her doing the more menial tasks.  Again, I try to encourage her, but the better I get at the job and the more recognition I get from the bosses, the harder it is to break through to her and try to witness to her troubled mind.  I fear she has become jealous of me, and this has caused her to be more distant from me and less friendly as if my success somehow is a betrayal to her.  I gave her a card yesterday in an attempt to further assure her of my desire to be her friend.  I let her know I was praying for her and wrote some verses in the card including Philippians 4:6-7 (Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.).  She accepted the card with tears and thanks and said life was hard right now, but then the wall came back up, and she said no more.

 

How does one handle it when trying so hard to encourage one who refuses to be comforted?  I feel as if I am failing the Lord because I cannot seem to help Barbara.  What can I say or do that will get through?  Am I praying the right prayers?  Should I spend a day fasting and praying for her and try harder to intercede on her behalf?  Does there come a time when we draw the line and say we have done all we can and do no more?  Do I simply give up on being her friend?  She has rejected my offers to go on a double date with her husband, Mel, and me (she said it sounded nice but never called after I gave her my phone number).  Again, she seems increasingly resentful with me for the positive attention I am getting at work, but I do not know what to do about that; I am not trying to upstage anyone, I simply believe in doing my best at any job.

 

I know you have probably been in this same situation at one time or another: trying to reach someone who feels unreachable.  Here is my advice on how to help a hurting friend.  This is very much for me as well as anyone reading this. 

 

First and foremost, place your friend in God’s very capable hands.  Trust that He did not bring this person into your life by accident.  Even when you believe you are failing, cling to 1 Corinthians 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.  Sometimes it is our job to plant the seed, sometimes it is to water it, and others we are to help reap the harvest.  We very well may not be able to see all our efforts played out.  Just because we do not see a change, that does not mean the person to whom we are ministering is unaffected.  God promises in Isaiah 55:11, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.  Which also means that once someone hears the Truths of God (whatever level of faith they may have), God’s words will sink in.  If that person chooses to reject it, it is not God’s fault, but the stubbornness of the person’s hardened heart.  Also consider Luke 21:33, Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

 

Next, remember, it is NOT about you!  Even if they don't seem to want to be friends, get over your ego and do not take rejection personally, but realize their emotional turmoil probably started before they knew you.  When Galatians 6:2 instructs us to Bear one another's burdens, that means we are to try to understand what the other person is going through and not make it about our hurt feelings.  We are to Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another (Romans 12:15-16). We are not to say, “I’d weep with you, but I’m too happy right now.”  Nor do we need to wallow in depression with them.  Or the opposite by refusing to be happy for someone when you are struggling. Focus on their needs and show both sympathy ad empathy and let him/her know you are there to laugh, cry, and especially to pray with and for them.  Do not assume you know why your friend is depressed, distant, or broken, but ask for Godly guidance on how to help. You might be able to figure out the person is suffering from physical or mental illness, in a bad marriage, or any number of things that will take the focus off your own need to feel accepted and just be there when you are needed.  Sometimes we need to simply make the offer to be there but then stand back and wait for them to come to you when they are ready.  You can still be a friend and find many other things to talk about other than their difficult times.  

 

This is the key to it all: do not give up praying.  Think on Colossians 1:9, We… do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  Notice the words, “do not cease”?  Even if you lose the friendship because the person pushes you away, keep praying and trusting God.

Remember, that quite often your friends may not see a breakthrough because they may be surrounding themselves with bondages that hold them back.  Movies, television, alcohol, ungodly music, false religions, witchcraft/new ageism, and other lifestyle choices that go against the Bible will always hold a person back from receiving God’s blessings.  Until your friend is ready to let go of his/her bondages, it will be next to impossible to find spiritual healing.  But again, keep praying, and add to your prayers that the Lord will open the eyes of your friend wide to whatever it is that may be blocking the breakthrough he/she needs.  If there comes an opportunity to offer gentle advice on such matters, please give Godly counsel, but do not be judgmental or give unwanted advice that will further turn them away from the things of the Lord. 

My last bit of advice is to quote scripture as much as you can.  When trying to encourage someone else, I do not like to sound like I know it all, and I want to make it clear I am not dolling out my wisdom but the Lord’s.  If you do not know the exact reference, look it up or encourage your friend to look it up as a way to get him/her into the Bible.

There are hundreds (probably thousands) of good verses you can give, but here is just one more that may help your friend (beside the above ones I quoted): (Proverbs 3:5-8) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.  

One last note. More than once when my husband and I were praying for people, God told us each on separate occasions that we needed to let them go and trust Him to do the rest.  We need to heed God's instruction and step back when He tells us to and trust Him to do the rest.  God has told both my husband and me, "There is nothing else you can do; It is up to them - not you - if they want to change. But don't give up praying." 

Note: As I mentioned above, this was written in 2018. The job "Barbara" and I were working at was a seasonal job, and as soon as the season was over, she never had anything else to do with me.  I tried to keep in contact with her, but she was not interested.  I still think of her often and pray for her. God knows where she is and has her in His hands and heart. 

Philippians 2:12: How do we keep addictive sins from accumulating?

 

 

Philippians 2:12: How do we keep addictive sins from accumulating?

Do you ever see the dust on your shelves, sigh, and walk away?  "I'll deal with it tomorrow," you tell yourself.  Several days pass and the dust has not gone away but has accumulated even more and will require even more work to get rid of.  It will not disappear on its own and you must put forth the effort to eliminate the dust.  Not only that, but if you don't work at keeping a clean house on a regular basis, the dust will always return in large piles.  

What does this make you think of?  Sin.  The exact same principle applies. Philippians 2:12 says we must "work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling."  It does not say we can lazily sit back and expect sin to take care of itself. We cannot just ignore the sinful issues in our life and expect them to go away on their own.  Although in some cases deliverance can be instantaneous, realistically we must continually work at keeping habitual sins at bay.  

How do we keep addictive sins from accumulating as deep as the dust on a neglected bookshelf?  First, and most important to remember, you cannot do it on your own!  John 15:4-5, Jesus reminds us, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."   Apart from help from Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we are unlikely to have permanent success on our own.  That is why so many addicts return to their vices after claiming victory, because they do not allow Jesus to take control of their life and use His Holy Spirit to fill in the void that addiction has left.  They still feel empty and hopeless even after they have done their best to take control of their sin.  Because they are still denying the love of Jesus, the hole in their heart remains and therefore, they return to their sins.

2 Peter 2:22 puts it this way, "But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."  

Although this verse has to do with those who have "known the way of righteousness" (in 2 Peter 2:21) and then backslidden, the same concept can be said for those who claim to have gotten rid of sin but still live in rebellion to the Lord.  You are allowing the dust to permeate your heart and soul over and over again until you surrender yourself to Jesus and allow Him to make you clean every single day!

Even when you allow Jesus to take control of your sinful nature, you still must be proactive in battling your temptations.  If your addiction is pornography, get rid of your source of porn (movies, Internet, etc.), just as you would remove the alcohol from your home if you were trying to quit drinking.  If you find yourself perpetually angry and fighting with others, stay off of social media if you feel it will tempt you to lose your temper and displease the Lord.

Remember what 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  Therefore, you never have an excuse to say you were not able to simply say "no" and walk away from your sin. 

You may need to seek personal or professional Godly council.  As Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Which means it is always a good idea to find someone trustworthy to whom you can be accountable. And pray for one another and encourage one another in living for the Lord. 

If you are trying to claim victory over sin, especially ones that deal with addiction, you need to find something to fill in the gaps left by the sin you have purged yourself from or you will fall backwards and need to fill in the lonely, desperate, hopeless holes in your life.  First, admit you have a problem, ask God to forgive your sins and surrender your will to Him.  Daily make the decision to live a life of honor (Luke 9:23).  No one is capable of being perfect, but it is important that we all strive to walk down paths of righteousness (Luke 13:23-25).  God sees your effort and your heart and that is what pleases Him most.  Fill in the gaps with Bible study, Godly preaching, praise music, etc. Do not rely on ungodly entertainment to be of any assistance as it filled with all the issues that only contribute to the problem.  Secular and even "Christian" music, books, television, movies, and even most preachers will all tell you that your sins are perfectly normal and acceptable and never encourage you to give them up.  They do not care about your soul or if you succeed in cleaning up your life, but God does and He will be your champion in helping you find permanent victory over sin.

I will end this by posting Psalm 51:1-17.  Print it out or memorize it and make it your daily prayer as you work on keeping the sin from accumulating in your life.

(Psalm 51:1-4; 6-13; 16-17) Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.  Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.   For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise. 

The Armor of God, Part 6: The Sword of the Spirit

 

 The Armor of God, Part 6: The Sword of the Spirit

(Ephesians 6:14-17) Stand therefore... And take... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

In the above verses, "The Sword of the Spirit" is described as "the Word of God," which we are to take up daily and use as a weapon against Satanic forces.  We are to be proactive by reading God's Word and using it to arm our minds, hearts, and souls so that we may live lives Holy and acceptable, as pleasing unto the Lord. 

(Romans 12:1-2) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

The Bible is not just any book; it is literally the inspired Word of God.  It is a history and a science book.  It is prophecy fulfilled and prophetic of things to come.  It is a morality guide - it is your compass.  We can plug into it and gain accesses to the very Power of God.  Isn't that amazing!

(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.  

I am a firm believer in reading the Bible every day.  Yes, I may skip a day here and there, but overall, I love to dive into God's Words with Bible Study two or three times a day.  Studying God's Words will not only benefit me spiritually and emotionally, but it proves to God how much I love Him and want to get to know Him better.  It also greatly influences my daily walk.  God's Word helps me make the best choices in everyday situations.  If I am holding a grudge, for example, I can stop and reflect on God's Word and know how this displeases the Holy of Holies. I can remind myself what the Bible says on forgiveness and be able to let my heart heal as I let go of bitterness. 

(Matthew 4:4) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

God's Word is our daily bread.  It is all we need to sustain us. After reading a particularly powerful bible verses, do you ever feel like you have partaken of a wonderful feast?  God's Words make you feel alive and will satisfy you to the very core of your being.  It will help you find and maintain joy even during the dark times of your life.

Speaking of, Matthew chapter 4, verses 1-11 are another reminder of how powerful the Sword of the Spirit is in fighting off Satan.  When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus was able to make Satan leave by quoting scripture. We have access to the same scriptures as well as those written after Jesus' death and resurrection.  The more we read the Bible, the greater our arsenal of scripture verses becomes, and the bigger and stronger our sword will grow.  We will be armed with more knowledge on God's Truth versus Satan's (and man's) lies and it will be easier to argue with the devil (and man) by quoting scripture and sending all deceivers fleeing.  

There are so many wonderful things that God's Word brings, that I cannot possibly name them all.  I'll just focus on a few more areas.

(Romans 1:16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. 

God's Word is our teacher on all areas concerning our salvation.  It tells us that Jesus shed his blood on the cross and died for our sins.  It also tells us that, if we repent of our sins, and choose Christ as our Savior, that we will be saved.  We do not have to earn God's love or the death of His son on the cross, these are the free gifts of True grace.  We are loved by an amazing God!

(Romans 6:1-4) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

But remember, God's Word does not exempt us from living a life of sin.  We are not to use God's grace as an excuse to do what we know is wrong.  God's Word is also great at convicting us of our sins. When in doubt if something goes against God's will, do not ask your buddies, read the Bible! I especially recommend reading and memorizing Galatians 5:16-26 & Revelation 21:7-8.  

(John 15:1-5) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 

If we abide in the Word (John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.) and do our best to live by God's instructions, God's Word will keep us honest.  If we set aside our egos and allow it, God's Word will show us where we need to improve, as well as showing us when we are on the right path.  Here is one of my favorite verses:

(Hebrews 4:12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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. 

When you read God's Word daily, it will really sink in to where you memorize scripture (even if you cannot remember the exact reference).  It is a good moral guide that you can and should keep with you wherever you go. 

(Psalm 119:11) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 

God's Word is a reality check.  When you read the gospels and Jesus' own Words, you will realize that Christ never sugar-coated things.  He was very honest and told His listeners (and eventual readers) that life would be hard, some will be persecuted for their beliefs, and some will never find true happiness in this life but can still have hope in eternal peace with Jesus.

(John 16:33) These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We live in a fallen world full of people not living a Godly life, and those people do not care how their actions affect others.  Because of such people, most of us will experience unpleasant things in life.  Living in a fallen world also means that diseases are allowed to exist and cause pain to the sufferer as well as to family members that endure loss.

(1 Peter 1:3-9) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 

Yet, if we endure, God's Word promises those who have repented of their sins, accept Christ as their Savior, and are striving to live holy lives, will gain eternal glory. (You can also read the beatitudes in Matthew 5 & Luke 20)

Ephesians 6:10-18 is an amazing section of scripture that should be carefully studied many times over.  The Sword of the Spirit, God's Word, alone in those verses offers up excellent advice on how to survive in this world. 

God's Words will bring you peace, joy, love, awe, conviction, and an overall honest look at life and make you take an honest look at yourself.  Go read it for yourself and be armed with the powerful Sword of God's Spirit!

The Armor of God, Part 5: The Helmet of Salvation

 

 The Armor of God, Part 5: The Helmet of Salvation

(Ephesians 6:14-17) Stand therefore... And take the helmet of salvation...

When I did a search on Bible Gateway for the word "salvation," there were 158 results!  There is so much to be said on the issue of salvation, it will be difficult to write this in one part, but I will do my best to sum it up. Salvation is a vital part to the armor of God we must put on daily.  A solider would never be without his helmet as it protects his head from a potentially lethal injury.  We must think of the helmet of salvation as protecting our head from an injury that could lead to spiritual death.

(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 his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

I know I have mentioned it before, but I will reiterate what the Bible says.  Salvation is a free gift from Jesus Christ.  We did not have to earn Jesus' death on the cross. However, we must make an active decision to accept this precious gift and (as stated in the verse in Ephesians 2), we must "walk in" the "good works, which God hath before ordained, lest we lose our salvation (see Revelation 2:5).

Because the apostle Paul chose salvation to be symbolic as the protector of our head, I am logically going to assume it is because our thoughts are so very important in how we live as followers of Jesus Christ.  

(2 Corinthians 10:4-5) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.  

Notice how Paul again mentions the term "warfare?"  He also makes it very clear that we must "bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."  If we can master our thought patterns, we can learn to control our actions as well. If we cannot control our thoughts and habitually give into temptation and sin, our salvation will be in grave danger.  We cannot do this on our own. As Jesus says in John 15:4, "As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."  We will fail if we try to conquer sin on our own, we must ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen us, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil," (Matthew 6:13) and He will always "make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear" temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Many people believe their thoughts do not matter.  As long as they say and do all the right things, then they can be as ungodly as they want to be in their own private thoughts.  As we are judged by our works, (It is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 1 Peter 1:16-17), please make no mistake that our thoughts are very much considered as part of our works.

Matthew 5:28 reminds us how important our thoughts are: But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  In other words, you do not have to participate in a physical affair to be considered an unfaithful spouse.  In the Lord’s eyes, lusting after someone else (this goes beyond simple attraction, but evolves into impure thoughts), is a sin.  This verse applies to unmarried people as well.  Make no mistake, the only time sexual fantasies are not a sin are if they are about your spouse.  Even single people should not entertain impure thoughts of someone they are not married to.

Jesus knows our every thought, even when we put on a false front to others.  Even if one spends his whole life successfully fooling others into thinking He is serving the Lord while addicted to pornography, participating in occult practices, stealing from others, backbiting, gossiping, etc., when he stands before the Lord on judgment day, all will be revealed.

(Matthew 12:34-37) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 

If I am dealing with a customer/client at work and I am super polite and kind, but in my thoughts, I would be calling the person annoying or even stupid, I am displeasing the Lord.  Yes, it is always important to treat others with respect, but if our thoughts are cruel, God knows.  And trust me, one can wear a mask for only so long before the real truth of their poor attitude seeps through.  It is why Jesus so often preached to the Pharisees about their hypocritical lives.  If the abundance of your heart (which is the same as your thoughts) is dark and crooked, your speech is sure to be as well. 

Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue."  And James 1:26 warns, "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."  James also says in 3:6, "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." 

Again, you can see how vital it is to put on that helmet of salvation to protect your thoughts.  Your thoughts will affect your speech, which can bring death or life, heaven or hell.  

Also consider that one of the seven abominations listed in Proverbs 6:16-19 is "A heart that devises wicked plans" (verse 18). Notice that one does not even have to carry out wicked plans but just dreaming them up is an abomination to God.  The Lord knows all your thoughts and if you are considering harming someone or breaking the law, you will be held accountable for your thoughts. Remember above Matthew 5:28 says we commit adultery just by thinking about having sex with someone other than our spouse.  Proverbs 23:7 says that we are what we think (For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he). The Bible also says that whatever we sow in our hearts we will reap in our actions.  Remember that song, "Be careful little mind what you think? For the Father up above is looking down in love"?  Well, sing that to yourself every time you are devising wicked thoughts. Repent, and change your thought process!  

(Philippians 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

There is so much more I could write on this subject, but I will end here. I want all of us (this includes me) to think of the words in Philippians 4:8 in all we do.  Is what we put before our eyes "pure," "lovely," and virtuous?  Is that music praising God?  If you are watching it or listening to it, it IS seeping into your thoughts. Are those thoughts endangering your salvation?  

When you choose NOT to watch that program with incantations and spells, you are firmly planting that helmet of salvation on your head and not inviting the devil to take control of your thoughts.  When you choose NOT to watch the movie with nudity, swearing, or violence, and when you choose NOT to read the book full of sex scenes, and you choose NOT to listen to the music that glorifies vanity and sexuality, you ARE taking your thoughts captive and surrendering your life to Jesus; you are wearing the helmet of salvation!  

The Armor of God, Part 4: The Shield of Faith, Written by my Husband

 

The Armor of God, Part 4: The Shield of Faith

Written by my Husband (Mel) 

(Ephesians 6:14-17) Stand therefore... taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one...

It is very important for the Christian to understand spiritual warfare, since we have an adversary seeking our destruction. God’s Word tells us that Satan is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Satan is also referred to as the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). One of Satan’s tactics is to stir people up in anger towards God. Many people blame God for the problems that they experience in this life, and they are oblivious to the fact, that there are two opposing kingdoms at work in the earth. Ephesians 6:12 states that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

 The truth is that we live in a war zone, and the battle is over the souls of men. If you belong to Christ, then you are in the Lord’s army, and Satan’s kingdom has declared all-out war against you. However, the good news is, greater is he that is within you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4), and if you are truly saved, you will inherit eternal life. If you have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, then you have the power to live an overcoming life, as well as the authority to put the devil to flight. In these last days, it is crucial that all Christians receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, in order to be able to stand firm in Christ, against the many snares of the devil.

We are also, told to take the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Fear is the opposite of faith and fear can quite often empower Satan’s attacks against us. That is why faith is vital for our protection against the many on slots and snares of the evil one. In battle, the shield repelled the blows of the enemy's weapons, and the same is also true in spiritual warfare, it is the shield of faith that stops the attacks. If we have faith that our Lord is bigger, as well as stronger than any of our enemies, then our prayers will be answered, and victory will be the result. Faith is the key for many breakthroughs in the Christian walk. Healings, deliverance from demonic activity, as well as everyday life situations, require faith to get results. 

(James 4:7-10) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. 

Many Christians have open doors to the enemy's oppression in their lives. We are saved by faith in the finished work of Christ alone, as long as faith is accompanied with repentance of our old nature. However, we need to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit to close the doors to the enemy who desires to oppress us.  You cannot walk in the Spirit, or bear good fruit, by your own merit. It is the Holy Spirit who works in you to purify and set you apart from the sinful world. You must surrender your will by obedience to Scripture and give the Spirit the reins of your heart and soul. Only when you are in submission to God do you have the authority to put the enemy to flight. Faith will repel the fiery darts of the enemy if you have submitted your life to God.

The Armor of God, Part 3: Feet Shod With the Gospel of Peace, Written by my Husband

 

 The Armor of God, Part 3: Feet Shod With the Gospel of Peace

Written by my Husband (Mel)

(Ephesians 6:14-17) Stand therefore... And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace...

The "gospel of peace" is not just about being at peace with others (which is also vitally important) but more about being armed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, who made peace upon the cross by offering himself as the payment for all of our sins. Also, we are all commissioned by Christ to go out into the world and share the gospel of salvation with others. 

(Isaiah 52:7) How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth  good tidings that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Shoes can symbolize our walk with the Lord, so being armed with the True gospel will help arm us against the false gospels being thrown at us by many false teachers. The more you read the Word, the better your feet will be shod with the True message of Jesus Christ.   

To have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace means we should be prepared to stand firm on the Gospel of salvation. Again, the meaning of shoes. When you study your Bible and the true gospel, you should not be deceived by false doctrines. There are many groups that try to add their own false doctrines to salvation. We must use discernment and dismiss anything that does not line up with scripture. 

The good news is that Christ made peace between the Father and mankind through his death upon the cross. The Father is a holy God who cannot look upon sin. No person on earth could save himself by his own works because we are a fallen race. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the spotless, perfect, lamb of God, who took our sins upon himself to wash us clean.

 We are justified in the eyes of God and saved by faith in the finished work of Christ upon the cross. However, we must repent of our sins and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out (sanctification). The Holy Spirit is also a free gift from God to those who are truly born again. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is also known as being filled with the Holy Ghost, sanctification, second blessing, or second act of grace. These terms all describe the immersion of power by God's Spirit in order to live an overcoming life and spread the gospel. There are nine gifts, as well as nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. Every Christian should desire this second blessing from God.

It is important to understand the peace made upon the cross between the Father and mankind. Before Christ came the Hebrews were kept by God under the Law of Moses. There was not a perfect sacrifice for the sins of the people. The animal sacrifices were symbolic of the final sacrifice of God's Son upon the cross. The law was our tutor, to teach us about sin and the consequences of sin. Under the old covenant they were slaves of sin, as well as the law. But under the new covenant of grace, we are free men and sons of the living God.

 Christ fulfilled every letter and stroke of the law upon the cross and brought a better covenant through his shed blood. Many people confuse the law of Moses with the law of Christ. Christ said, "If you love me you will keep MY commandments" and went on to say," this is MY commandment that you love one another." The law of Christ was centered upon heart issues. Christ taught us to love one another, turn the other cheek, forgive one another seventy times seven, show mercy, be kind and hospitable, not to judge with hypocrisy, and for those without sin to cast the first stone. Christ was the light from heaven to teach us the true ways of God. The old covenant was referred to as a perpetual and everlasting covenant for all generations to the Hebrew people. In the Hebrew, this is defined as a final decree by God as long as the old covenant was in effect. 

However, the issue of whether or not the gentile believers were expected to keep the law of Moses was settled forever by the Jerusalem Decree (Acts 15: 4-30). All of the Apostles and Elders of the church were in agreement that gentile Christians were Not expected to keep the law of Moses.  

 (John 1:17) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

When we were bankrupt in our debts he paid them in full and washed us white as snow in his precious blood. Let us stand firm in our faith of the True gospel of peace and share it with a lost and dying world. 

(Ephesians 2:14-17) For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

The Armor of God, Part 2: The Breastplate of Righteousness, Written by my Husband

 

The Armor of God, Part 2: The Breastplate of Righteousness 

Written by my Husband (Mel)

(Ephesians 6:14-17) Stand therefore... having on the breastplate of righteousness...

We are told, to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness does not mean we can ever claim to be perfect, but it does mean that we do our utmost to live right.  This is a reference to sanctification (being purified by God’s Spirit, as well as set apart from the sinful world). Salvation is a free gift based on faith in Christ, accompanied with repentance of our old nature. When a person is truly saved by grace, their debts are forgiven, and their garments are washed white in the blood of the Lamb. Christ's righteousness is imputed to the saved believer. However, after we are saved, we must allow the Holy Spirit to teach us how to walk in the Spirit and allow Him to bear good fruit through us. A person cannot walk the straight and narrow path or bear good fruit by their own merit. It is only by the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit that we can put down the old nature and be truly born again. We must surrender all to the Lord and allow His Spirit to transform us from the inside out. God gives us grace to learn to walk; our salvation is based upon the finished work of Christ upon the cross.  However, we can lose this precious gift if we rebelliously refuse to change our sinful ways and never truly become a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17).

The breastplate is a vitally important part of the warrior’s armor because it guards the heart, lungs, as well as other vital organs. God’s Word teaches us, that without holiness no man shall see the Father. Satan’s desire is to give a spiritual death blow to the Christian by enticing him with the lusts of the world, that is why the breastplate of righteousness is an integral piece of armor for our spiritual survival.

(Matthew 5:20) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

(2 Timothy 2:22) Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 

(Romans 3:25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. 

(James 3:17-18) But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. 

The Armor of God, Part 1: The Belt of Truth

 

 

The Armor of God, Part 1: The Belt of Truth

(Ephesians 6:14-17) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth...

When getting ready to write this blog I learned that in Biblical days the belt was "worn at all times, even without the other pieces" of armor (From Logos Bible Software). I found that very profound!  We need to make sure we are walking in the Truths of the Bible in every single decision we make, to wear these Truths "at all times."  

(1 John 4:1-3) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.  

Test all you hear from all pastors, teachers, family, friends, or anyone else who tries to give you spiritual advice (including me) against what the Bible says. If what they say does not line up with the Word of God, they are deceivers and should not be listened to.  Many may try to trick you by saying, "That's not what Jesus meant when He said..." or, "Well, in the original Hebrew it means..."  Do not let these manipulative tactics work! No one should be so arrogant as to try to tell you what Jesus, Peter, Paul, John, or James (etc.) meant other than what was written into scripture (commentaries are helpful, but trying to change the meaning of what was written is not).  

On a quick side note: Most of the New Testament was not written in Hebrew, but in Greek. While almost all of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, it is not the case for the New. All of the articles I have read from historical - not just theological - experts believe that, based on the Hellenistic culture of that time period, most people wrote in Greek, even those that spoke Aramaic, Hebrew, or other languages as most people were multilingual.  Therefore, almost all of the New Testament was written in Greek, with only a small portion written in Hebrew, Aramaic, or other language. Knowing this is not a racial issue, but an historical one so you will know not to let others mislead you in misinterpreting the Bible for their own agenda. 

Certain prophetic books of the Bible, especially Revelation, are cryptic for a reason, but the other books mean what they say and say what they mean!  Do not let anyone try to make the Word of God try to jump through their hoops to justify their false religion or their sinful lifestyle by trying to put a new interpretation on the Word of God! 

(1 Timothy 4:1-2) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy. 

1 Timothy also states Christians will "depart from the faith" and give into the "doctrines of demons."

What are these false doctrines leading people astray? There are too many to list here. Because I address many other issues throughout other writing on my blog site, I will just focus on one in this writing:  

(Jude 1:4) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 

This means that false teachers have perverted the Truths about holiness taught by Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, Jude, etc. and have twisted it to a false grace message saying we never need to repent because forgiveness is automatic.  Salvation and true grace are free gifts from God; we do not have to earn them. However, Romans 6:1-2 states, we should not "continue in sin, that grace may abound."  We need to be "dead to sin" and love the Lord more than the world! We need to daily examine our hearts and repent when we have sinned (see Psalm 139). 

(2 Timothy 4:3-4) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

Believers and unbelievers alike have solidly plugged up their ears to the holiness message of making a daily decision to follow the ways of Jesus (Luke 9:23).  They do not think there is any need to change or become a "new creation" by giving up "the old things" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

(Revelation 3:15-16) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 

In today's modern church, pastors have quit preaching the Truth on lessons of repentance and holiness.  I am not saying every single pastor out there is preaching a lukewarm message, but sadly, the majority are. 

Even the once on-fire holiness preachers have begun speaking less on righteousness and more on praying and getting blessed, not on how we should be blessing God.  While prayer is vital to our walk with God, our actions outside of the prayer closet matter even more.  Our cups need to be clean on the outside and on the inside (see Matthew 23:25-28).   The sermons are more about how God is calling people (mostly only youth for some reason) to be leaders, even if they are not living for the Lord. Gone are the messages about how these so-called chosen leaders need to live clean lives according to Biblical principles.  Rather than focusing on God and giving Him the glory, these messages please the ego by being self-serving, self-praising, and self-affirming.   

(Romans 1:18-22) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.  

This is speaking of those who were well aware of God's power but rebelled.  God was absolutely going to hold them accountable because they knew better.  In fact, the Bible says God holds us more accountable when we know the Truth and trade it for a lie than when our sins are more ignorant (Hebrews 6:6 & 2 Peter 20-22).  They knew better and justified their actions with false logic, and therefore, became foolish.   

(Revelation 2:5) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 

I see a lot of people who stubbornly choose to do wrong teaching their watered-down messages to others.  Pray God will ultimately open their eyes, or re-open as the case may be.  Or if it is you who has fallen away, it is never too late to repent and start over.  

If you have been fooled by a manipulative spiritual "teacher" and gone astray from the things of God, it is never too late to put the Belt of Truth back on!

In order to survive the confusion of what other people are trying to teach you that does not line up with the Word of God, we need to always wear the Belt of Truth. Our hope lies in the Holy Spirit's power through this important piece of the Armor of God. When we daily read God's Word and obey it, we can then take up the Belt of Truth and throw away the chains of Satan's lies once and for all.