(Ephesians 6:10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For 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. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Boy, do these metaphorical terms hit home with knee replacement recovery! It seems that there are times in life, physically, domestically, vocationally, socially, as well as spiritually that STANDING is somewhat difficult. I don't mean to minimize that in any way in these devotional thoughts, but I do want us to look realistically at the text to maybe understand a bit better why we our spiritual limbs weaken and why we sometime fall, even though we do not have to. The clear warning of Paul to the Corinthians regarding facing temptation is that God is faithful to provide a way to escape, BUT, he continues "wherefore let him who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall."
In this amazing battle that rages through the ages, we have said the the key initially is to understand that the power and authority belong to the Lord, so it is IN HIM that we are more than conquerors and not in our own strength. Since the battle is SPIRITUAL, the armor must be SPIRITUAL, so we must be equipped to withstand in order to stand.
I think I can honestly say that for most of my adult life, because I became a Christian at the age of twenty five, I have not been a vengeful person, but I have been a fighter. I have sought to "fight the good fight of faith." "Not as one that is shadow boxing," but as one who is hitting the target spiritually. Having always sought to use the Word of God skillfully, rightly dividing the Word of Truth, I have preached and taught, confronted and contended as openly and honestly as I could. My heart's desire has always been to esteem His Word as He does, and I only wish that it had been only before the world, but the truth is that I have had to deal with SO MANY stinking thinking church members who were not skillful in the Word of righteousness, but gave heed to seducing spirits, doctrines of demons, every wind of doctrine that some TV preacher taught as truth when it was not truth at all.
My desire has been to be a shepherd and not an hireling that runs when the wolf comes, but to use the rod and staff of God to bring correction and direction, clarification and understanding with compassion and love. Paul told the Corinthians that he wanted to come to them in love, but that he would bring a ROD. Sometimes the rod is necessary.
I realize that the mellow milk toast minister would rather flee that fight (I don't mean physically), but unless TRUTH is established, taught, and STOOD on and for, the little leaven of false teaching grows as yeast in dough and eventually divides true believers. This is happening now with the reform theology in many Southern Baptist Churches where the "doctrine" is more important than the devotion to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Most of it started with a handful of professors who have influenced young preachers to split established churches rather than unify them through the teaching of TRUTH - "By THIS shall all men know that you are my disciples, that ye LOVE one another" - not separate from, critical of, isolate from! Preach and teach the WHOLE counsel of God - ELECTION, SECURITY, WARNING, ALL THE DOCTRINES, but for Christ's sake, don't reject those who love Christ because of the fact that they may not see text exactly as you do - maybe they are "unskilled in the Word of righteousness" or maybe they have been taught differently by someone as passionately as you and just need to be taken under arm and taught more perfectly as was Apollos.
(1 Thes 5:14) Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. (15) See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
BLESSINGS!
In this amazing battle that rages through the ages, we have said the the key initially is to understand that the power and authority belong to the Lord, so it is IN HIM that we are more than conquerors and not in our own strength. Since the battle is SPIRITUAL, the armor must be SPIRITUAL, so we must be equipped to withstand in order to stand.
I think I can honestly say that for most of my adult life, because I became a Christian at the age of twenty five, I have not been a vengeful person, but I have been a fighter. I have sought to "fight the good fight of faith." "Not as one that is shadow boxing," but as one who is hitting the target spiritually. Having always sought to use the Word of God skillfully, rightly dividing the Word of Truth, I have preached and taught, confronted and contended as openly and honestly as I could. My heart's desire has always been to esteem His Word as He does, and I only wish that it had been only before the world, but the truth is that I have had to deal with SO MANY stinking thinking church members who were not skillful in the Word of righteousness, but gave heed to seducing spirits, doctrines of demons, every wind of doctrine that some TV preacher taught as truth when it was not truth at all.
My desire has been to be a shepherd and not an hireling that runs when the wolf comes, but to use the rod and staff of God to bring correction and direction, clarification and understanding with compassion and love. Paul told the Corinthians that he wanted to come to them in love, but that he would bring a ROD. Sometimes the rod is necessary.
I realize that the mellow milk toast minister would rather flee that fight (I don't mean physically), but unless TRUTH is established, taught, and STOOD on and for, the little leaven of false teaching grows as yeast in dough and eventually divides true believers. This is happening now with the reform theology in many Southern Baptist Churches where the "doctrine" is more important than the devotion to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Most of it started with a handful of professors who have influenced young preachers to split established churches rather than unify them through the teaching of TRUTH - "By THIS shall all men know that you are my disciples, that ye LOVE one another" - not separate from, critical of, isolate from! Preach and teach the WHOLE counsel of God - ELECTION, SECURITY, WARNING, ALL THE DOCTRINES, but for Christ's sake, don't reject those who love Christ because of the fact that they may not see text exactly as you do - maybe they are "unskilled in the Word of righteousness" or maybe they have been taught differently by someone as passionately as you and just need to be taken under arm and taught more perfectly as was Apollos.
(1 Thes 5:14) Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. (15) See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
BLESSINGS!
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