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 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 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 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).  Right now, she seems 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!  Get over your ego and do not take rejection personally.  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.  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 simply 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.  

 

Do not give up.  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, witchcraft, 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.  

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. 

Colossians 1:12-16 & 19-23

(Colossians 1:12-16 & 19-23) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven;

The Book of Colossians Quick Preview

 The Book of Colossians Quick Preview

I know I post this every time, but in case you are new to this blog:

I want to make it clear that all of my dear readers understand that the purpose of sharing my Bible Journal is merely for the sake of helping others realize what the Bible truly says. I pray you read the entire Bible on your own, perhaps read each chapter along with the postings. I also pray you ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart as you read and make His holy words come alive to you and give you His understanding as you study.

Before each book of the Bible, I will take a quick video of the book so you can see a preview of what will be shared for that book. Just remember, I am not a very good artist. but I wanted to share with you how God's Word inspires me. These postings are in no way instructional on how to Bible journal. This is not about beautiful art that covers up and distracts from the scriptures on the pages, it is about expressing my love for the holy Word of God. So even when the pages I share are "ugly" or uncreative, I will still be sharing them as God's Word is always beautiful!

A few notes on the videos. I am not a professional and only have my inexpensive phone to record on. Also, I live in the Pacific Northwest where it will be cloudy from now until at least June, so I apologize if the quality of the videos is too dark!

Jesus Christ Our Sacrificial Lamb, Written by my Husband

Jesus Christ Our Sacrificial Lamb, Written by my Husband (Mel)

There is no greater love than a man that is willing to lay down his life for a friend. Our Lord Jesus Christ left his throne in Heaven, clothed himself in the frailty of human flesh, and died a horrible death in order to provide redemption for us. For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son, so that whosoever believes in him, should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

It was no small sacrifice that our Lord made upon the cross of Calvary, for he gave his very life, so that we may live with him in the eternal Kingdom of God. Redemption means to redeem or purchase something. Christ was literally buying us back from Satan through his sacrifice upon the cross.

Because of the disobedience of Adam, the earth fell from perfection into corruption, and Satan became the prince and power of this fallen world. However, Christ became the second Adam, in that through his obedience to the Father, he provided eternal life to all who will make him Lord of their life.

Jesus Christ is our sacrificial lamb. On the day of preparation, when the Jews killed, as well as prepared the lamb for the Passover meal, our Lord was crucified. Through the shed blood of our Lord, provision was made for sins to be passed over.

The Passover lamb had to be spotless and without defect, or God would reject it. The blood sacrifice of the lamb was symbolic of the sacrifice of God’s sinless Son upon the cross. Christ was tempted in every way that we are, yet he remained the only sinless man ever to walk the earth. Christ was the only man who could take our place upon the cross.

To repent, means to turn away from sin and to become a new creation in Christ, a person that is set apart from the sinful world. Many churches fail to teach people that they must be truly born again. Christ taught that we must remain in the vine, in other words in him, as well as bear good fruit, or the Father will cut our branch off, and throw it into the fire.

When a person is truly saved through repentance and placing their faith in Christ, their spiritual garments are made white by the blood of the Lamb. All of our sins are passed over and we are saved by grace, apart from our works. However, God's Word teaches us that we are to keep our garments clean, for they can be defiled by living in a backslidden state and we can lose our salvation.

(Isaiah 53:4-7) Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

When Christ died upon the cross, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. The temple veil covered the entrance to the Holy of Holies. Only the Levitical priest was permitted to enter this most inner chamber. The Ark of the Covenant was kept there. The priest would sprinkle blood upon the mercy seat, between the two cherubim, on top of the Ark. This was done to cleanse the tabernacle, as well as make atonement for the sins of the people. The high priest would offer up an animal sacrifice for himself, as well as the people. When Christ made atonement for our sins upon the cross, his blood was sprinkled upon the mercy seat in Heaven. Christ, our high priest made the final sacrifice for sins. Since the veil was torn from top to bottom in the temple, we now have access to the Holy of Holies (God). The veil of separation between God and man has been removed forever.

The atonement of Christ also provided for the healing of our bodies. God’s Word states that He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and by His stripes, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Christ was scourged with the Roman cat of nine tails. This device had nine leather straps with bone and metal in each strap. Many men died from this type of torture, but our Lord endured it. His stripes provide healing for our physical bodies. God’s Word says that if there be any sick among you to call for the elders, to anoint with oil and pray over the sick, and the prayer of faith will restore them, and if they have committed sins they will be forgiven (James 5:14,15).

The Lord is willing to forgive us of all of our sins, no matter how big they are, if we will repent and turn from them. The Lord is very patient, as well as merciful with each of us; he gives us time to grow in our Christian walk. Will you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior? There is Heaven to be gained, as well as Hell to be avoided. If we repent of our sins, as well as make confession of our faith in Christ, we shall be saved. If you would like to accept Christ into your heart, then please pray with me.

Lord Jesus Christ,

I believe that you are the Son of God, the creator of all things.

I believe that you died upon the cross for my sins, and I ask you to forgive me of all of my sins, as I turn from them to everlasting life.

I believe that the Father raised you from the dead, and that by accepting you as my Savior, you will also raise me from the dead when you return.

Please help me to allow your Holy Spirit to transform me into a new creation.

Lord Jesus, please send your Holy Spirit now to live within me.

In the most holy name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen!

This prayer alone will not save your soul, unless you pray with sincerity, as well as conviction. Accepting Christ into your heart is the beginning of your Christian Walk, not the end. You must remain in the faith, study your Bible, as well as grow spiritually. The Holy Spirit is our helper, counselor, and friend, he is the portion of God’s Spirit that indwells us.

Please consider these Scriptures in regard to salvation.

(Romans 10:9-13) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

( 1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(John 15:1-4) “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

(1 Timothy 6: 11-12) But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

(2 Corinthians 7:10) For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

(Luke 15:7) I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

(1 Corinthians 6:9-11) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Resurrection Day Message: How Quickly We Forget (Video)

 

I wanted to re-share this video I made in 2021 titled "Resurrection Day Message: How Quickly We Forget."

I apologize that I am unable to share any videos to Blogger longer than 30 seconds. but you can find this video on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/juliesbiblejourney

Philippians 4:8-9

Whatever you choose to read, watch, listen to, or talk about, consider the below verses.  They have helped me a lot as I consider whether or not Jesus would be pleased with my choices.  

(Philippians 4:8-9) 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.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Philippians 3:9-14 (Amplified Version)

I usually use King James Version, but this is from the Amplified version: 

This is one of my husband's favorite portions of scripture.

(Philippians 3:9-14) And may I be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]; so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own. 

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [heavenly] prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

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 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.  No one is capable of being perfect, but it is important that we all strive to walk down paths of righteousness.  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 music and 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. 

Philippians 1:6 & 4:6-7, 11-13, 19-20

(Philippians 1:6) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

(4:6-7) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

(4:11-13) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

(4:19-20) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Book of Philippians Quick Preview

The Book of Philippians Quick Preview

I know I post this every time, but in case you are new to this blog:

I want to make it clear that all of my dear readers understand that the purpose of sharing my Bible Journal is merely for the sake of helping others realize what the Bible truly says. I pray you read the entire Bible on your own, perhaps read each chapter along with the postings. I also pray you ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart as you read and make His holy words come alive to you and give you His understanding as you study.

Before each book of the Bible, I will take a quick video of the book so you can see a preview of what will be shared for that book. Just remember, I am not a very good artist. but I wanted to share with you how God's Word inspires me. These postings are in no way instructional on how to Bible journal. This is not about beautiful art that covers up and distracts from the scriptures on the pages, it is about expressing my love for the holy Word of God. So even when the pages I share are "ugly" or uncreative, I will still be sharing them as God's Word is always beautiful!

A few notes on the videos. I am not a professional and only have my inexpensive phone to record on. Also, I live in the Pacific Northwest where it will be cloudy from now until at least June, so I apologize if the quality of the videos is too dark!

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 (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. Romans 12:1-2)

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 on a daily basis.  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. 

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. Matthew 4:4 

God's Word is our daily bread.  It is all we need to sustain us. After reading 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 (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1) 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. (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. John 16:33)

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.  But do not ever take my word for it, read it for yourself!

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).

I fully believe the majority of what the apostle Paul wrote was inspired by the Holy Spirit.  Because 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, sexual fantasies are a sin in God's eyes, whether you are married or single (unless they are about your spouse).

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. Satan is also referred to as, the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. 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 darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly 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, 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 enemies 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.