Finally,

Ephesians 6:10 “Finally,  my brethren,  be strong in the Lord,  and in the power of His might.”

Finally….

Paul had begun this letter to the church in Ephesus, with:

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

Ephesians 2:6 “And hath raised us up together,  and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

Paul told of all the spiritual blessings that are ours….in the heavenlies….in Christ…

….as we are in Christ Jesus,…..those spiritual blessings can flow down to us, here on earth….

……and the means of getting those blessings to flow down….is to give Christ complete charge of our lives, as King. (Matthew 6:10)

He represents us up there before God the Father…so we are seated “in Him” in the heavenlies before God, too.

And we represent Him down here before the world…..and He is “in us” here before every person we meet with.

This is a great blessing….the Presence of God within us…..and those spiritual blessings, He has won for us.

The blessing of the Holy Spirit’s power within us (Eph. 1:13-14)

The blessing of understanding, and power (Eph. 1:18-20)

The blessing of quickening….both for salvation, and against sin. (Eph. 2:1-5)

The blessing of the works we are to walk in. (Eph. 2:10)

The blessing of letting the Gentiles into the church. (Eph.2:19)

The blessing of being rooted and grounded in Christ’s love (Eph.3:17)

The blessing of grace given in His measure…to us personally (Eph. 4:7)

Then after Paul speaks of all the blessings Christ has won for us…..those that should be coming down to us, in our every day life….

….he speaks of the practical life we are to live….as children, parents, workers, and employers.

Christianity is very practical.   Eternal life is not for heaven alone…..but for the life we live now.

The Lord never intended us to be saved,…..and then wait for heaven to know His love or peace or joy or mercy or grace…..but, to have them now in active fellowship and communion with Him.

That is why the blessed Holy Spirit lives within us….to bring down to us all that Christ has won for us….and that we will use in obedience to Him.

Then…..”Finally, my brethren”…..

Paul is summing up his thoughts for this beloved church….by showing them another blessing….the blessing of the armor of God.

Armor (Greek “panoply”) is a covering for warfare.

And here, he states, it covers our “loins”….or the pivotal power of our body….the place of real power of our movement……our will.

And our will,  needs to be covered by the truth…otherwise our will go this way and that….without purpose.

Our armor covers our chest….our heart and affections…..with righteousness.

(Righteousness is being right with God.)

It is given us by Christ….it is His righteousness that we are clothed with….but for the armor,  it is also our righteousness….our seeing that we are kept right before God….our sins confessed….our obediences up-to-date. (1 John 1:9)

Our armor covers our feet….our movements in this world.   

And they are to be in peace.   This is to go with God’s peace firmly in place….not in fear….resting upon the promises of God….and then we will not slip. (John 14:27)

Our armor includes our shield….a moveable piece which can help….for extra covering against the “fiery darts of the wicked”.

This is our faith…..true faith overcomes. (1 John 5:4)

Faith stops those suggestions which “fly” at us….in our minds….and those emotions which come to us in our hearts….

….with the internal knowledge of God.   Faith puts God in front of us…and if God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31-32)

Our armor….our covering for warfare…includes covering for our minds….the helmet of salvation.

Our Salvation is a complete one……God saves every part of us. 

He firmly places over our thought life a covering….to keep us safe from every panic and imaginations which suggest that God is not able. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

Our armor gives us a weapon….it is the Word of God….it is like a sword in our hand….to use against the wiles (tricks, and flattery) of the devil.

The Word of God divides false from true….and shows us God’s Way to go. (Psalm 119:11,36-37)

Our armor is prayer…..and how many times has our prayer saved us, when we are under attack!   Remember, God answers prayer because we believe Him….not because we say all the right words.  (Peter when he was drowning…”Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:30)

A soldier does not put on his armor,  after going into the battle….but a soldier puts his armor on….knowing the coming battle, and is prepared.

God has given us in Christ Jesus….by His Spirit, many blessings.

God has given us instruction as….how to live….

…..whether we are son, or daughter, father or mother,  wife or husband,  employee or employer….God has showed us that we are to think of each other in light of what Christ has done for us…..

….not what we or they have done.

And,  finally….God has supplied His power to cover us…

….with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and His Word…and prayer…

….as a covering for us in the battle which we are in, here on earth.

Are we discovering all that Christ has for us?

The God of Peace

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”

At least six times in the New Testament, God is called the God of Peace.

(Romans 15:33, Romans 16:20,  Philippians 4:9,  1 Thessalonians 5:23,  2 Thessalonians 3:16 [here it is said “Lord of peace”], Hebrews 13:20)

Christ Jesus, Himself is the source of our peace.

We are not given peace by self effort….but it is given by the Holy Spirit as we “stay” ourselves on Him.

Perfect peace of mind……and freedom from the gripping hand of “cares”;….can only be known only as we learn to commit all our ways to Him.

“Cares” grab ahold of us, and say:  “You need to do something about this!”

“Mind” here is the imagination;   which can think of all kinds of thoughts about the things that…will happen….could happen……the “what ifs” of the situation.

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him;  for He careth for you.”

Casting,….it is a energetic action….we are not to think of them awhile, then think about giving them to the Lord…

…no, we are to cast them upon Him….He is able….He has seen to these cares and worries already….and will see to them in us, through us, and by us…

…..for He cares for us. (this is a term for “taking care of us”)

Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and He demonstrated this so marvelously on the cross.

1 Peter 2:23 “ Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again;  when He suffered, He threatened not;  but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously:”

The first part of the verse, is what He did before the Sanhedrin, Pilate, the soldiers, and on the cross….here was His obedience…

..He reviled not…He threatened not.

And it was because…He “committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.”

He did this at Gethsemane,  when the thoughts of the shame and defilement of the cross came fast and furious…each,  an attack against Him.

Matthew 26:38-39 “Then saith He (Jesus) unto them,  My soul is exceeding sorrowful,  even unto death:  tarry ye here,  and watch with Me.

              And He went a little further,  and fell on His face,  and prayed,  saying,  O My Father,  if it be possible,  let this cup pass from Me:  nevertheless,  not as I will,  but as Thou wilt.”

But His answered these attacks on His peace,  with:  “Not as I will,  but as Thou wilt.”

This should be our stand, as well….when the attacks of concern, worry, doubt, and panic come against us.  

We, too, should commit ourselves to God, for all that will come to us…and let the peace of God guard us….keeping our hearts and minds.

1 Peter 4:19 “Wherefore,  let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing,  as unto a faithful Creator.”

He created us for a purpose,  we need to submit to that purpose,   for today…..not my will, but thine be done…and be obedient…for this is the “way of peace”…

Isaiah 48:17-18 “Thus saith the Lord,   Thy redeemer,   the Holy One of Israel;  I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit (by My teaching),   which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

               O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments!  Then had thy peace been as a river,  and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:”

Obeying His Word….we will be lead into His peace.

The listening and obedient ear knows true peace….for it knows the Voice of the God of Peace….and follows Him.

We are called to Pay the Price,  for what we Have 

Once, years ago, my husband was holding meetings in another church.  Every night people were coming forward,  confessing sins,  and surrendering their lives to Christ….

….yet….after a while…he thought there would be more outreach for Christ.

People who open up their lives to Christ usually want to share their joy with others….

…but,  later in the evening meetings,  the same people would come forward,….mostly for the same things.

         “What was the reason?”  he asked the Lord. 

And the Lord said,  “They will not pay the price for what they have.    I have heard their confessions….I have heard them as they commit this and that part of their life to Me….

…..but when they get up from the altar….

….they will not hold the ground I have given them in their lives….

…..for surrender to me will bring attacks from the Adversary.”

          From then on, my husband not only sought to preach about sanctification…..but also about the warfare which comes from following the Lord whole-heartedly.

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God,  that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (tricks) of the devil”

To stand in this scripture, is to hold on to the promises, and gifts, and callings….the grace and hope, that the Lord has won on the cross for us……against the temptations and tricks the world and the devil throw against us.

Our Strength is in the Lord,…..not in our surrender…..but we must stand with Him.

It is true, that when we are born again…..we do not possess all that He has for us.

We have the Holy Spirit as our Comforter and Guide, and faith as a gift…..and so we have the ability to “grow in grace and the knowledge of God”.

But we have to grow.

What is it to grow in grace?…..well, we can go from grace to grace by using the ability and power you have been given.   God will give us as much as we use….not as much as we want.

And what is it to grow in the knowledge of God?….it is to read, and seek understanding of His Word.   

To use that understanding to come to Him and say,….

“Lord, I see you want me to be patient amid trials (Romans 5:3).   I am not….I panic, I get frustrated,  I grumble….forgive me.

Please show me, blessed Holy Spirit, how to be this way….and work this patience within me.”      

His Word gives knowledge in light…..and the experience He leads you in gives you knowledge in love. 

Luke 8:5, 11 “A sower went out to sow his seed:  and as he sowed,  some fell by the wayside;  and was trodden down,  and the fowls of the air devoured it.

           Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.”

In this day, we tend to play down His Word as our authority….and play up our “right” to obey it or not.

But once we have heard God’s Word….we are saved or condemned….by what we do about it….

1 Peter 1:23 “Being born again,  not of corruptible seed,  but of incorruptible,  by the Word of God,  which liveth and abideth forever.”

This “seed” has been spread everywhere….as Christ told His disciples to do.

Luke 8:12 “Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil,  and taketh away the word out of their hearts,  lest they should believe and be saved.” (2 Timothy 2:26)

I have always thought of these “wayside hearers” to be the religious-hardened.   Those that barely hear the Word in their ears,  before rejecting it for themselves.

But….

The Bible plainly says,  the Word was sown “in their hearts”……how is this possible?…..with this outcome?

First let me explain that the Word is never for our ears,…alone.

If that were the case,  it would be like documents filed in our mind,  for later….mostly forgotten about.

No,  the Word is always through the ears….to the heart.  

There must be a response to the Word….not just an emotional response,….but a turning toward, and a holding onto.

So how was this Word in their hearts…..yet “devoured” by the Adversary?

(he is pictured as “the fowls of the air”.   Notice the term, “devoured”….as in 

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant;  because your adversary the devil,  as a roaring lion,  walketh about,  seeking whom he may devour:”)

Because,….it is “trodden down”….then it is taken away by the devil.

When we receive the Word of God to us,  we can do two things:  hold on to it….or throw it down.

(My husband used the illustration of the Word as pieces of paper….and his pocket on his shirt as his heart.

      The Word comes into the heart….but, oh, that does not mean anything for me…..now….and the paper (word) is taken from the pocket (heart) and tossed on the floor.

      Oh, that Word is good, I should probably pray about that…..later….and the paper slides out of the pocket on to the floor.

       We may have a number of “reasons” that the Word is not held on to….and obeyed…..but the Word always ends up on the floor.

      And my husband is walking all over them!   Illustrating the way we “trod them down”….

……..if we do not hold and obey them.)

When we receive God’s Word to us…..and it does not matter how it comes….through a message,  the scriptures, through someone’s testimony….however it comes,…

….we must hold on to it….surrendering right then to that Word….

…….using it on ourselves, in honesty with God….for it is His Word to us.

Luke 8:8, 15 “And other fell on good ground,  and sprang up,  and bear fruit a hundredfold.   And when He had said these things,  He cried,  He that hath ears to hear,  let him hear.

          But that on the good ground are they,  which in an honest and good heart,  having heard the Word,  keep it,  and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things,  and desperately wicked:  who can know it?

            I the Lord search the heart,  I try the reins (will),  even to give every man according to his ways,  and according to the fruit of his doings.”

If we keep God’s Word,  in honesty (which shows it is a “good heart”),  then the fruit of the Spirit will begin to manifest itself…first in us:

Love for the Lord and His Word…

Joy…that exuberance, which comes from His presence within 

Peace..a settled union with God’s Will

Then the fruit of the Spirit without, to others…both of the household of faith and not:

Long-suffering or patience with others.

Gentleness or showing others Christ as we would children.

Goodness or kindness especially to those who do not show kindness to us.

Faith…that faith that stands with Christ in the world. (Jude 3)

Meekness….or keeping ourselves in our humble place before God..whether in success or failure.

Temperance…to be moderate or hang on with a loose hand all our worldly goods.

The price we pay, for what Christ has won for us…..and it is all of Him….but the price He asks us to pay….is to stand with Him in everything…

…will we?

Jesus and the Children. 

Matthew 18:12-14 “How think ye?  If a man have a hundred sheep,  and one of them be gone astray,  doth he not leave the ninety and nine,  and goeth into the mountains,  and seeketh that which has gone astray?

                               And if so be that He find it, verily I say unto you,  he rejoicieth more of that sheep,  then of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

                               Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven,  that one of these little ones should perish.”

Jesus thinks children are very important.  The training and guiding them to come to Him, is vital.

Jesus would have them all come to Him and be saved.

“..it is not the will of your Father in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

And in order for that to happen,  He will go out and search for them.

In Mark it says:

Mark 10:13-14 “And they brought young children to Him,  that He should touch them;  and His disciples rebuked those that brought them.

                                But when Jesus saw it,  He was much displeased,  and said unto them,   Suffer the little children to come unto Me,  and forbid them not;  for of such is the kingdom of God.”

He was displeased that the disciples wanted to keep the children away.  He took them up in His arms and blessed them.

Children who are brought up to love the Lord, and know His love for them personally,……may stray far,   when they grow older. (My son was one of these.)

But they will be brought back, for He is always their Shepherd.

Matthew 18:12-13 “How think ye?  If a man have a hundred sheep,  and one of them be gone astray,  doth he not leave the ninety and nine,  and goeth into the mountains,  and seeketh that which is gone astray?

                                 And if so be that he find it,  verily I say unto you,  he rejoiceth more of that sheep,  than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.”

And why does He rejoice so, over that one?

Because, they are always in His plans and purposes.

Matthew 18:10-11 “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones;  for I say unto you,  that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven.

                                  For the Son of man came to save that which was lost.”

The children are especially mentioned when He comes into Jerusalem.  He is praised by the multitude;  but they fade away.  

But the children come into the Temple with the blind and the lame, after Jesus drives out the moneychangers.  And they keep on praising Him.  

When they are complained about,  Jesus says God has ordained them for praise.

Matthew 21:15-16 “And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did,  and the children crying in the temple,  and saying,  Hosanna to the Son of David;  they were sore displeased,  

                                 And said unto Him,   Hearest Thou what these say?  And Jesus said unto them,   Yea;  have ye never read,  Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise?”

Psalm 8:2 “Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine enemies,  that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.”

After Christ arose, and Peter is forgiven his denials of Jesus, and given his ministry for the rest of his life;  he was told first:

John 21:15 “So when they had dined,  Jesus saith to Simon Peter,   Simon, son of Jona,  lovest thou Me more than these?   He saith unto Him,  Yea, Lord;  Thou knowest that I love Thee.   He saith unto him,   Feed my lambs.”

Sometimes I feel that we are like the Israelites in Egypt under the Pharaoh which killed so many children.   (Exodus 1:22)

Our Adversary, the devil, is seeking to limit the influence of Christ Jesus,……… to destroy our children. 

Pharaoh drowned them in the Nile, and how many children are being “drowned” in things of this world:  the internet, peer pressure, violence……

….there are many others,……but all are choking the knowledge of true life in Christ, out of our children.

It does not matter whether they are rich or poor,  the answer is as Jesus said, “Bring them unto me.”

(Many say that a whole generation is already gone:  Maybe so,  and maybe not.  But, and let us all pray for those we know,  the Shepherd is going out now to rescue these lost ones.)

Proverbs 2:1-2, 9 “My son,  if thou wilt receive My words,  and hide My commandments with thee;  

                                 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thy heart to understand;

                              Then shalt thou understand righteousness,  and judgement,  and equity;  yea, every good path.”

That is what we want for our children,  the “good path”,  wherein is righteousness and peace.

Matthew 18:12-13 “…If a man have a hundred sheep,  and one of them be gone astray,  doth he not leave the ninety and nine,  and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

                                 And if it so be that he find it,  verily I say unto you,  he rejoiceth more of that sheep,  than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.”

The Lord Jesus loves our children,…..let us love them also,…..with our prayers for their salvation,….and our witness of all the good God has done for us.

Direction for our Christian Lives 

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;  and lean not unto thine own understanding.  

            In all thy ways acknowledge Him,  and He shall direct thy paths.”

This trust is of the heart, not the head.  Trust is the hanging on to Jesus Christ.

If we will acknowledge Him in all our ways…He will direct our paths.  

And acknowledge here, means that we are to seek Him  in everything concerning our lives.

Good things, bad things,….we are to “see” that Christ knows about it and about us,  being in this situation.

Then,  we are to tell Him about everything in it:  our side, and wants concerning it;  and the other side as well.

This is, again, for the heart:  for this command is for us,   if we love the Lord, and really want the Lord’s direction.

To have this direction aright, we must do this in everything, not just the big important things,……but the little everyday things, as well.

        Because this is the fellowship that is offered us, as we go along with Jesus.

It is constant fellowship:  

      And fellowship in the Greek means “a sharer, partnership”.    

Are we a partner with Christ in all we do?

We need to lean on Him:

We can “lean on our own understanding” pretty easily.  We have intelligence, and we are here in the situation;  who better to figure this out?  

(We all know how this turns out.)

But to “lean” on the Lord Jesus is to trust Him.

        Real direction comes to us by the Holy Spirit within us.  That is a matter of the heart, again,  not the head.

       You ask for direction,  then you hear His Voice.   

Light comes.    

You see what to do.    

      And if there is anything which clouds the light…..you quickly remove anything that would hinder that light….

That Light brings the knowledge of what pleases Him in this situation;  and you do it.  

        And you also know what displeases Him,  and turn away from it.  

The gift of wisdom is a great gift from the Lord.

He directs and helps us in our “path”.

Isaiah 43:19 “Behold,  I will do a new thing;  now it shall spring forth;  shall ye not know it?  I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

There is no place or time He does not know, and does not make preparation for.

Isaiah 42:16 “And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not;  

I will lead them in paths that they have not known:  

I will make darkness  light before them,  

and crooked things straight.  

These things will I do unto them,  and not forsake them.”

(Four times He says He “will”…….and promises to: “not forsake them”…..what more can we ask for our path?)

God sees to us,….our hearts…..our direction…..and to our path,…..as we acknowledge Him….

……Who He is….what He can do for us…..and His partnership with us……..in all the “ways” we go.

And He will not forsake us,  ever.

He loves us with an everlasting love.

Jeremiah 31:3 “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me,  saying,  Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:  therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.”

Let us acknowledge Him in everything, everyday…..today….and let Him lead us.

Jesus’  lesson on Prayer 

Matthew 6:5-6 “And when thou prayest,  

thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:   for they love to pray  standing  in the synagogues and in the corners of the street, that they may be seen of men.   

Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

        But thou, when thou prayest,  enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door,  pray to thy Father which is in secret;  and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”

This is pretty straight forward,….Jesus said that praying for admiration, or attention from others is not anything God will answer….”they have their reward”……in the applause from others.

But to pray aright, is to go to God “in secret”.

Or where others can not hear, and “shut the door” on the world….and talk to God alone about everything.  

Our Father in Heaven, shall hear such a prayer,  and will answer you.

(Yes, there are hurried prayers….any where….”Lord, I need calm now…”.   Or “Lord, help me say the right thing.”

But the general tenor of our prayers should be between us and God, in the quiet times of our lives….or making quiet times for Him.)

Then Jesus tells us the way in which we should pray…this is not just a form-prayer….pray these words……but the pattern for all prayer….beginning with:

Matthew 6:9 “After this manner therefore pray ye;    Our Father which art in Heaven,  Hallowed be Thy name.”

We come before God as our Father….and honor His blessed name, for He is worthy of our praise and of our all.

For it is in His presence, we gather together….and to Him, we ask our requests. (John 16:23)

To praise and honor God,  lifts our spiritual affections and prepares our souls to hear from Him concerning our requests.

Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come.   Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Here is our first request, and we should always consider God’s glory, first……that Christ will rule and reign in us.      His kingdom will come “in earth”….in us….for today, and every day.

We are asking that His Holy Spirit work within us….”both to will and do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Here, the Lord, tells us that we should come to Him for all our needs….this includes physical…both health and financial.

For help with our emotional wellbeing,…..and, we should pray for our family and friends, the same way.

This teaches us that the Lord is ever mindful of our days….we should be, too.

Today is important…we may not even know all the things we will need for this day…but we can bring what we know to Him, and commit whatever else the day brings into His hands.

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Sins are “debts”.

As His creatures, made in His image, we owe God perfect obedience and love.

But since Adam fell, this has not happened….sin entered, and marred the work of God in us.   

Even when we are born again, we often fail to hear,  or respond to God and His Word as we should;   but He has made provision for us in Christ Jesus.

All our sins are forgiven the moment we are born again;……but for fellowship’s sake,  we are told to confess our sins….bringing them before Him in honesty, and knowing they are forgiven, and our conscience cleansed.    (1 John 1:9)

Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God,  purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

And He shows us that we should forgive others, as Jesus Christ has forgiven us….how important this is for fellowship with other Christians, and that our prayers are not hindered…(Mark 11:24-26)

Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:…”

He alone can uphold us….we can and are exhorted, to “hold on” to Him and His Word….but it is His grace (the unmerited favor of power) by His Holy Spirit which empowers to do so…..

(We have been told to “watch”….Mark 13:35-37)

And to pray that He will deliver us from the wrong path we have wandered into…..by error or choice….sending us help (Jude 22-23)…..or pulling us out of it,  Himself.

1 Corinthians 10:13 “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.”

Matthew 6:13 “…For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.”

Here, we tell God that we know He is all He tells us in His Word….and He has all authority to do all that pleases Him…for it is best.

We praise Him, that He is our God….His kingdom rules over the world we see, and that which we do not.

He is All-powerful…and therefore He is worthy of all our confidence and trust.  He never slumbers, or is weary of us….nothing is too hard for Him.

And we give Him glory for all His excellencies:  His character is all glorious, for He is everything we need.  (1 Corinthians 1:31)

Here we are telling God that because He reigns supreme, we know He is able to grant our requests.

“O Father, how many enemies are against us….from within our own heart…and from without….from the world, and the devil.

We come to You, because we belong to You,…..and we ask for strength and courage to overcome by Your faith the corruptions of our habits and old nature within…and to stand with You, in Your protection, against our enemies without.

We pray for Your Will done in us,…help us to know it and do it;  that we might be to Your praise and glory.

In Jesus Name. Amen.”

“Forever.  Amen.”

When we pray,  we can look beyond time, and begin to measure the things of now,  in the scales of eternity,….which helps us see things clearly.

Amen…so let it be.

Colossians 4:2 “Continue in prayer,  and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

Psalm 67:5-6 “Let the people praise Thee, O God: let all the people praise Thee.

                 Then shall the earth yield her increase;  and God, even our own God, shall bless us.”

       

Do we have sure footing? 

Ephesians 6:15 “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

The Roman hobnail sandal’s were made of leather….coming all the way up the calf.  They had very small spikes on the bottom for gripping the ground when in march or battle.

And these describe what Paul says is the Gospel of peace.

In the Christian life, we need sure footing.

If we are to walk and resist the Adversary of our souls,…….that solid footing is provided in the Gospel of peace.

There is a place of rest,  and peace of mind,  for every Christian.

It is God’s hiding place for every believer…..

Psalm 32:7 “Thou art my hiding place;  Thou shalt preserve me from trouble;

Thou shalt compass me about with psalms and deliverance.  Selah.”

Psalm 119:114 “Thou art my hiding place and my shield:  I hope in Thy Word.”

Isaiah 32:2 “And a Man shall be a hiding place from the wind,  and covert from the tempest;  and as rivers of water in a dry place,  as a shadow of a great Rock in a weary land.”

If we do not learn to depend upon the promises of God, and receive His peace……..then we will not have sure footing to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

The devil will knock us off balance,…..with accusations of past sins,  or doubt,……and we will be on the ground,  before we know it.

Worry, anxiety, trouble, or fear……meet all these with a promise from His Word.

One that you can get a hold of……and that can get a hold of you, by the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit’s assurance of Christ’s Word is very important.    

The Bible is full of promises….which we can claim.

But one given by the Spirit to our spirit in the midst of trouble or battle,  is precious.    And must be held on to.

The Lord wants to garrison or guard you about with peace….His peace.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God which passeth understanding,  shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

This is of the Holy Spirit….not something we do,  but what He does within us…..so that we can get our “footing” in this situation.

John 14:26-27 “But the Comforter,  which is the Holy Ghost,  Whom the Father will send in My name,  He shall teach you all things,  and bring all things to your remembrance,  whatsoever I have said unto you.

                     Peace I leave with you,  My peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth,  give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled,  neither let it be afraid.”

But we must will with Him,  for the battle rages around our minds, hearts and wills. 

It says,  “Let not your heart be troubled”….”neither let it be afraid.”

These are acts of our will.  We are staying hidden in His peace.   (This is not presumption:  for we have His Word.   Nor is it indifference:  for we will do anything the Lord wants done concerning the matter.)

Therefore, when we will with Him,  letting Him do as He wills,  in His time,   in His way….then the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, will teach us (again and again, if need be) about His peace….and surround us with it…….and keep us till we receive the promise.

The Holy Spirit will garrison, or guard us….with His peace. 

John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled:  ye believe in God,  believe also in Me.”

Peace comes to us by the Holy Spirit…..and it is that assurance that God knows our situation…..and He has a plan of deliverance for it….whether out of it…or through it.

That is the sure-footing that we need in this world…..God’s Spirit helping us “dig in” and “hold on” to God’s Word….till we get the promise.

Trials 

and let’s face it….some days there are many trials:

    Trials of belief…..”do you trust God for this?”

Trials of hope….”How long, Lord, before this is as You said?”

    Trials from friends, family, and enemies.

Trials of finances, and need…..some to overwhelming.

Psalm 61:2-4 “From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed:  lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

      For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

      I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever:  I will trust in the covert of Thy wings. Selah.” 

      In the Tabernacle, in the Holy Place….the curtains that covered in between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies and on top, overhead…..of the of the space was embroidered with cherubims wings (Psalm 26:1, 31-33)……so that when the priests entered…..and ministered there….they were covered with His wings.

The Lord said to Jerusalem….the place where one day the King of kings shall rule:

      Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee,    how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”     (Luke 13:34 says the same)

The Lord would “hide” us under His wings…..in protection, and comfort, and closeness….in our ministry and life.

      They would not have it…..will we run to Him and be safe?  (Proverbs 18:10)

Trials are of two kinds…..trials of everyday life we simply must “pass through” with Christ.

       1 Peter 1:7 “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 honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

       The walk of a Christian is full of trials…everyday trials we overcome before the world. And my trials are not yours….nor yours, mine.   They are sometimes small and sometimes hard….but they are meant to teach us to cling to Christ….and pass through.

     (They used to say:  If we would be arrested for being a Christian….would there be enough evidence against us….to convict us?

 And then….there are trials which test our faithfulness to Christ.

       1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

(Notice, “in stewards”,  not just their actions)

       1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” 

       Hebrews 11:36-37 “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

       They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with a sword:….”

       

       Paul said at the end….”….I have finished my course,  I have kept the faith:” (2Timothy 3:7)

Faithfully he clung to his faith in Christ Jesus.

        (One thing I would mention here,….in all trials, but esp. those of our faithfulness…….we need to keep close to Christ.  

         We will never come through the trials in blessing, if we are trying to walk with the world and Christ.)

How many trials we pass through, yet the place of safety and care is offered….

Psalm 91:4 “He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust:  His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”

Psalm 36:7 “How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.”

Psalm 17:8-9 “Keep me as the apple of the eye,  hide me under the shadow of Thy wings, 

           From the wicked that oppress me,  from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.”

(You will notice again what these “wings” give….

….A place to stand and hold:  His truth.

….His lovingkindness….which draws us to trust Him.

….Protection…but it is the protection of a loved one….the apple of His eye.)

The song, “What a Friend”, says:   

“What a Friend we have in Jesus,  All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry,  everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry,  everything to God in prayer.”

       God knows and has measured the trials of our life….and He intends we walk through them (on the lonely road, and in the fire of the furnace) with Him.

Acts….of the Holy Spirit. 

Some say that “the Acts” is for…..the Acts of the Apostles….or Acts of the beginning Church….

…but really,  it is the Acts of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus ascended back to heaven,  He left instruction to go to Jerusalem and wait….

….the disciples were to wait for the giving of the promise of the Father….the Holy Ghost.

He was to be their internal Guide and Instructor.

Ten days later, the Holy Spirit is given on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-2, 4 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

         And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

         And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost….”

From that time onward….the Acts show the workings of the Holy Spirit within the believers.  

All of the first eight chapters deals with them in Jerusalem….

…..God giving Israel a second chance to believe on Christ Jesus as the Son of God…..by the works of the Holy Spirit through the church.

And that is the amazing thing about the Holy Spirit….and the thing which infuriated the rulers….

….everyone which was saved,  had the Spirit’s power….some more….some less…

….it seems like a wave of God’s presence was filling the city……and that just made them want to stop it even more…..

….for it reminded them,   of their guilt in crucifying the Lord Jesus.

So they are determined to prove this Way wrong….

Finally,  the rulers get their chance to try and stop this wave of power by the Holy Spirit.

And it comes…..by the stoning of Stephen, the church’s first martyr.

But instead of stopping this power of the Holy Spirit…..they simply send it out, with the believers who leave the city……into Samaria….and into the world.

Peter preaches Christ to the first gentiles….and as they believe….the Holy Spirit is given to them.

Christ Jesus,   by His Spirit,  is fulfilling within the believers, the great commission….

….for Jesus told them it would be a ministry to all the world:

Matthew 18:18-20 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,   All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

           Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

           Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway,  even unto the end of the world.  Amen.”

But there was a witness there at Stephen’s stoning…..Saul, who would become Paul the apostle to the gentiles….

At first Saul is furious at these…of “this Way” (Acts 9:1-2)….but….

….God gets Saul/Paul’s attention…..knocked down by The Light……on the way to Damascus….and spoken to by The Lord Jesus Christ…..he becomes converted……acknowledging God’s Purpose and Salvation through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

How good and gracious God is, in saving the worst sinner (his words…..1 Timothy 1:15)….and bringing him to be sent as a missionary out into the world.

Paul was diligent in his efforts, often burdened “in weakness and fear and trembling”….

1 Corinthians 2:3-5 “I was with you in weakness,  and in fear,  and in much trembling.

           And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom,  but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.

          That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men,  but in the power of God.”

Paul set forth the real power of the life of Christ within us,…by the Holy Spirit.

Paul had three missionary journey’s….

……and the more he saw of these places….the more completely he realized 

……there was only One power which alone could lay hold of the minds and hearts of these souls,….

……which were so filled with terrible darkness….and the sensual appetite of the times.

Philippians 2:15 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”

Those to whom he preached were living  as nothing…..slave or master…..rich or poor,….there was no meaning to life…..

…….they were nothing….going to nothing….spending their short time in searching for meaning in empty lives.

When Paul came……he set forth Christ crucified….and why God’s Son had to die….for the sins of the world….

…and His glorious resurrection….that we might have His life by the Holy Spirit, in us,…..now and for eternity.

Paul loved fervently each church that he ministered to and in,  always leaving some spiritual helpers, if he could,….. to see to them and build them up.

There was Timothy,  Titus,…..and Luke,  who wrote Acts.  There was Pricilla and Aquila….there was Apollos, a fiery preacher. 

Yet in all….it is the Holy Spirit working….sending…..and preaching.

The last eight chapters, set forth Paul’s imprisonment….and subsequent trials….till at last he appeals to Caesar.  

And that is where Acts ends….with Paul in Rome waiting for his trial….still preaching,  still setting forth Christ crucified and risen as the Savior of the world.

Acts 28:30-31 “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

         Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”

(Acts shows that the salvation of the world is through individuals.   Wherever these Christians went….there were converts to Christ…..and persecution to Him.

“……In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

The gospel was shown…..in power….to Israel [How God loves Israel]…..and then outward into the world…..even to the capital of the known world at that time….Rome…..

…..all to show us….that God saves the worst sinners….in the worst places…..

…..His power and grace by the Holy Spirit,  brings men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the same time,  it shows that the governments of the world will refuse subjection and salvation in Christ….because the Holy Spirit demands repentance….

“…He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:…John 16:8

The only time that the governments of this world will become the Kingdom of our Lord….is at the end   Revelation 11:15…Revelation 21:3-4)

The first generation of believers, set forth how the guidance of the Holy Spirit would lead.

He was in charge…..He was the power….in each believer….

…..and that is the message of Acts.  

To have the power of the first church…..we must be filled with the Spirit, and we must have the devotion and obedience to the Holy Spirit, that they had….

….we must expect persecution…

….for we are never very far from it in any age….men will not hear the claims of Christ without a fight…(think of Saul/Paul)…

….but Christ is still the Victor….He is still giving His Holy Spirit in fullness to all who seek after Him.

Ephesians 3:16-19 “That He would grant you,  according to the riches of His glory,  to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.

        That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith,  that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

        May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth,  and length,  and depth,  and height;

        And to know the love of Christ,  which passeth knowledge,  that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Do you want this fullness of the Holy Spirit….

…….and the devotion and obedience to Christ,   that it costs?

Thy Kingdom Come

Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Where is His kingdom to come?  Where is His will to be done?

In earth….

….not on earth;  but in earth….in us who are made of the earth, and formed by God into a living soul….we are to have His kingdom come “in” us….and have His will done “in” us.

This is the second most important thing we are to pray for…..according to the prayer Jesus Christ taught his disciples.  (Matthew 6:9-15)

(The first most important thing is to ask that His Name would be “hallowed” or honored.   

We know His Name signifies all that He is….so the first thing we should pray for,…..when we pray, is that God would be honored by us.   

That His Name would not be ill-spoken of,…..because of our behavior.)

But the second thing we are to pray for,  is that we might have His kingdom come, and His will be done within us….it is that important.

Luke 17:20-21 “And when He was demanded of the Pharisees,  when the kingdom of God should come,  He answered them and said,    The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:  

               Neither shall they say,  Lo here!  Or,  Lo there!  For,  behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”

The Pharisees thought of “the kingdom” as a place and a time, which would surely include them….because of their lineage.

They did not understand that the kingdom is only where the King is.

And the King, Jesus Christ was standing before them,  right then….

….inviting them to come into His kingdom,  by believing and submitting to Him.

He is doing the same thing to each of us, today…

There are two principles at work in the universe:

God’s principle of Obedience, and the devil’s principle of Rebellion.

God’s principle of Obedience…..which is to place ourselves at God’s disposal to do, or be what He wants.

This principle was seen in all the children of God, to a decree, down through the ages….

….but especially in His Son,  The Son of God/the Son of Man…..Who did always those things that pleased His Father (John 8:29)

Hebrews 5:8-9 “Though He were a Son, yet He learned He obedience by the things which He suffered;

                 And being made perfect (complete in His Work), He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;”

Christ Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself and became man.   Many things He did for others, by the power of God….but…

…..He had to be obedient to Mary and Joseph……for thirty years (Luke 2:49-51)

…..He was tempted for forty days and nights by the devil….yet without yielding (Matthew 4:1-11)

…..He had to wait for others to bring Him food, and ask for water at a well (John 4:6-8) 

…..He was silent before His accusers,  as a “sheep before His shearers is dumb” (Isaiah 53:7)

Everything He did, here as man,…every act, every word,…..was in obedience to God His Father.

He did everything in obedience, as man…without sin….but as man….

…..an obedient man….worthy in His Person, for Who He was and what He had done….to be the perfect sacrifice for sin.

Taking away the sin of all who would believe in Him.

And the devil’s principle of Rebellion….where we place ourselves against the things of God….against His will and His way.

The devil would persuade us (“wiles”Ephesians 6:11)…..that we can have things our way and God’s….but we can not.

We must choose:

Romans 6:16 “Know ye not,  that to whom ye yield yourselves  servants to obey,  his servants ye are to whom ye obey;   whether of sin unto death,     or of obedience unto righteousness?”

(Hell was made for the devil and his angels….not man.  

Until the day of Adam’s sin, then it was opened up for those who refuse to believe God, and obey Him.  

Matthew 25:41 “Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand,  Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,  prepared for the devil and his angels:”)

I started this with “Thy kingdom come.”

For every Christian,  if we do not have Christ’s kingdom come within our hearts,  we are leaving things in our lives open to the devil’s wiles  to rebellion.

Christ has made a way for us,….to come to God in peace, and have full access to His grace: the unmerited favor of power (Romans 5:1-2)

….to be led by the Spirit of God and be joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14, 17)

….to come boldly to the Throne of grace and obtain mercy (Hebrews 4:16)

….to be saved from the lusts of the world (2 Peter 1:3-4).

He is the Author and Finisher of our faith:

Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;  Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,  despising the shame,  and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God.”

Christ’s Way, is by His kingdom being set up in our lives.  He sits on the throne of our lives….and we occupy the footstool, as HIs servant.

It is the second most important thing we are to ask for:  Thy kingdom come.

Are we seeking it for ourselves?  Are we acknowledging Him as our King?