Archive for November, 2018

The helmet of salvation

Posted: November 29, 2018 in The helmet of Salvation
0

 

Helmet of salvation:Ephesians 6

1 Thessalonians 5:8-11NIV   “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvationas a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Isaiah 59:17NIV     “He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head;he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.”

***The helmet of salvation is a part of the armour of God that protects the head. Not just the physical head, but the mind that is contained within it. Our minds are so important. We need to guard our mindsvery carefully and protect ourselves from the sin and slavery that is all around us. Be careful what you put into it… Our minds should be filled with all that is good, holy and pure…

Salvation is the saving hopeof the human person. Salvation is the remedy for our sinand will secure us a place in the heavenly kingdom. If we have no salvation, we have no heaven, no protection for the evil in this world, or the evil in our own souls. We are defenceless without this helmet.

Without this helmet we are not Christians at all..!

What is it?

It is a hope. A sure and certain hope that we belong to God and our future is safe and secure in Him. This knowledge will protect us from evil.

It is not just a mental assent to the truth of this salvation, but a real and living faithin the saviour who has bought this salvation for us.

What is this salvation?

  • We are lost without God. Our souls are dead in sin.
  • God loves us and has provided a way for us to be forgiven for our sins and to get the righteousness of Jesus for ourselves.
  • Jesus paid the price for us on the cross.
  • We can come to Him and ask for forgiveness and a new life that knows God.
  • We are given the faith to believe by God.
  • Jesus forgives us, makes us new people, gives LIFE to our dead souls, and brings us into His family and kingdom. Such priviledges…
  • We are now alive to God.
  • We have righteousness that God has given to us.
  • We have spiritual gifts to help us to follow Jesus and to obey Him.

The Christian has everything he or she needs to follow and grow in Christ. The FAITH we have beengiven protects us from evil, temptation and false teachers.

This FAITH comes to us through the working of God’s amazing salvation. This salvation and faith is our protection. Protection from these things…

  • Because we walk by faith, we don’t listen to teaching about dead works. We know we have been delivered from sin by the grace of God.
  • We don’t listen to people who follow faithless ways and worldly-minded ideas. Getting lots of things for this life and making ourselves important.
  • Walking with God and worshipping God in very outward ways that actually distract us from loving God. We worship and serve God in Spirit and in truth not for show.
  • Always looking for something for ourselves.

The Christian is covered from falling into sin and temptation by constantly reminding themselves of what God has done for them and saved them from. We never forget that we were once sinners and in need of God’s forgiveness. We now enjoy this peace with God, because He has saved us. This is keeping the helmet of salvation in place and protecting our minds from foolish ideas.

 

 

Advertisement

The shield of Faith

Posted: November 17, 2018 in The Shield of Faith
0

 

The PRIMARY WEAPON take home sheet

 

The PRIMARY WEAPON    The SHIELD of FAITH

“…above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.”

This weapon is defensive.This weapon is our chief defense. This weapon will shield us from the evil the enemy tries to thrown at us. It is really important that we know how to use it. We must keep it ready at all times because the enemy will attack us when we least expect it. Keep it on your arm so that when you see or hear the flaming arrows coming at you, you can deflect them.

The arrows of the enemy are hurtful and murderous. He wants to quench the faith of the Christian by firing firey darts at their hearts. These darts are fear, sorrow, doubt, lies, blame…

Dart of fear: “you will not make it to the end of the journey, because I am too strong for you…”

FAITH: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper…” Isaiah 54:17

Dart of sorrow: “Your sins are not forgiven because Jesus does not love you and He didn’t die for you…”

FAITH: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8   “No one who comes to me will I will in no away throw out..” John 6:37

Dart of doubt: “You are too weak. You are not good enough. The Bible isn’t true anyway…”

“God has forgotten you and left you…”

FAITH: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

“Your word is truth.” John 17:17

“I will never leave you or forsake you…” Hebrews 13:5

Dart of lies: “You have done too many sins and God won’t forgive you.” “God is just spoiling your fun.”

FAITH: “wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross..” Colossians 2:14

“The Lord gives strength to His people and blesses them with peace.”  Psalm 29:11

Dart of Blame: “Everything is your fault, because you are a failure.” “God loves other people but not you…”

“ you have missed your chance to be a Christian and now its too late…”

FAITH: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

 “God so loved the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 

 “now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 2:6

Dart of temptation: “You really want this.. just give in..” “everyone else has one..” “This is a good thing to do…” “If you do this it will make you popular…”

“you have sinned too much and there’s no forgiveness” “God doesn’t really love you… He just tries to spoil your fun..”

FAITH: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“Keep watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation.” Matthew 26:41

“Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.”James 4:7

These scriptures will protect you from many of the firey dats of the evil one. We recite them when under fire, and our faith raises the shield of beleiving these words and that is what protects us and comforts us in trouble. There are many more to learn and as you grow in the confidence that God is with you, He will help you to want the right things.

The Christian fails under temptation because they don’t trust God, and don’t use the shield of faith.

We fail because often we don’t want to resist the temptation and we give in.

No one has to give in, because God has promised to give us the strength to walk away from the evil and wrong things. I you keep walking away, it gets easier. You start to realize…

GOD IS WITH ME…!!

You start to see how great it is to have His company, and you will not do anything that would grieve the Holy Spirit and cause Him to be silent in your life.

God’s way is a way of sacrifice. It is a very testing way to walk… JESUS said…

“He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. He who doesn’t take his cross and follow after me, isn’t worthy of me. He who seeks his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39

Shoes that bring goodness to all

Posted: November 8, 2018 in Shoes that bring goodness to all
0

IMG_2345

 

Shoes that bring goodness and to all

“feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”Ephesians 6:15

The feet of the Christian are different from other people’s feet. They follow Jesus wherever He leads and are quick to obey and go where He wants them to go.

The need for shoes…

The feet of the Christian has been given shoes to wear for a purpose. These shoes had been given to them by God. They are useful shoes and always lead the right way. They are keen to do the right thing. They are always ready to help others and tell others about Jesus.

Useful shoes…

These feet are quick to help others and to put themselves out to comfort and support another person. This readiness to bring good to other people, is a direct result of the gospel of Jesus.

These shoes have been put on the Christian by “the gospel of peace” The Christian has heard the good news about Jesus and has repented and believed in Him. The have new lives now and they have been so affected by the message of the gospel that their feet are always ready to go and serve. They don’t hold back.

The Christian goes to places where they are able to think about Jesus and serve Him. This is not just church, but anywhere He leads us to go. The street, the place we work, and even other countries.

Places not to go…

There are places they stay away from. Anywhere that leads to temptation or that would cause us to stumble in our Christian lives. Places where people drink and have loud music with bad words. Places where other God’s are worshipped.

These shoes never come off. They are on the feet of every Christian. The  Christian lives in a permanent state of serving the Lord and going where he wants them to go.

How to serve…

We can serve by practically helping people and by actively telling them about the way to God. The love they have experienced from God, they want to share with others.

Always ready….

  • Practical tasks to help people who need help.
  • Giving resources to people who don’t have enough.
  • Taking people to places where they can’t go by themselves.
  • Encouraging people who are bowed down by worry and stress.
  • Teaching people the way to God and how to understand the Bible.
  • Praying for people. Interceding for others is a powerful way to help them.
  • Directing them to people who can help.
  • Involving themselves with other people to be a witness for the Lord Jesus.

These glorious shoes that the Christian wears, brings goodness and blessing to other people.

When we help other people in trouble, or provide something for them that they need, we are a blessing.

It is good to be a blessing.

 How amazing to be a blessing that saves someone from death, not just physical death, but spiritual death. Imagine telling some one you know about Jesus, and they really come to Him.! You will see that person in heaven. There is no greater thing than to save a soul from death and eternal punishment.

This is the mark of every Christian, not just some. The pattern is the life of Jesus, and the prayer is to be like Him. This is the greatest thing.

May our feet have these sacrificial shoes on them, so that we tell the good news to everyone…

The breastplate of righteousness

Posted: November 6, 2018 in Breastplate of righteousness
0

IMG_8331

 

The BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS

The breastplate as part of a soldier armour was strapped to the chest. The function was to protect the crucial organs of the heart and lungs. It was strapped on the front so that any attacks could be neutralised. It was made of the toughest steel or metal and sometimes was made into chain mail.

The CHRISTIAN has a breatsplate of righteousness to protect them from spiritual attack. These attacks are unseen and form forces much stronger than we are, so we need this protection every day.

What is RIGHTEOUSNESS?

Righteousness is acting rightly in a way that does not lead to guilt. It is doing only good, and wanting the best for others. It is obeying God and His righteous laws.

Righteousness is given to us.

We have no rightoeusness of our own.

God says our rightouesness is like filthy rags.

Jesus gives us His goodness when we trust in Him. His righteousness is perfect and with His holiness we can get into heaven.

The Christian must live a HOLY LIFE

We must wrestle with dark power, and our own sinfulness if we are to overcome in the power fo the Holy Spirit.

Some people will say that once you have been forgiven by Jesus, you don’t have to bother about goodness. Jesus will cover it all. That is true in that it is His righteousness that makes us right for heaven. The only way to heaven is to have Jesus’ righteousness in our lives. Then we persevere in seekign tolive His life, in our life every day. We must live holy lives and turn away from evil. This is difficult and it is the fight in the Christian life.

We can only overcome with the righteousness of Jesus, that He gives us, and we must learn His ways and follow Him very closely.

God says, whoever overcomes will recieve the crown of righteousness. So, there is great effort to be made. We want our own way, and often we will try to get out of obeying and try to justify ourselves and our sin.

This is not using the breastplate of righteousness!!

 If I continue in my own way, the enemy will destroy my life and my testimony.

 How do I live with the breastplate of righteousness on?
  • I must fight sinful desires and sinful lifestyles.
  • I must learn God’s ways and keep reminding myself of them every day…. Bible reading and study.
  • Prayer is something I do every day and ofter talk to God about what is going on.
  • Realise that God is personal and wants me to know Him. I realise how much I need Him and without God I will not make it.
  • Having Christian friends who help and encourage me.
  • Finding ways to serve God and share the message with other people I know.
Specifics
  • Lets say you do something wrong at home. You know it is wrong, but hope no one will notice. Your Mum notices and asks what happened. You say “I dont know” We tell “white lies” Why? We might not want to get into trouble, or we dont want to admit our fault. It is very easy to let this go, as it seems not very important, but God sees no “white lies” They are all evil. We need God’s word to teach us what is right and wrong.
  • Perhaps in school or college you say something to the person beside you. The teacher asks who is talking. You remain silent… we dont want to own up as it would look bad in other peoples eyes. We need to learn honesty and to do what we are asked in the first place…
  • We all struggle with negative and hateful thoughts. When someone is mean to us, or we feel jealous of someone, we can find our minds thinking ill of people. We can rehease the bad things they do or say and rehearse what we would like to say back! Thoughts are very difficult to control and we must learn how to put them away from our mind. This is impossible without help…

I can’t do this!!

You are right you can’t. Without spiritual life in you, you will not be able to overcome these things and many more. Jesus is able to save us and give us the power to overcome the sins that trouble us. We must have the breastplate in place so that the firey darts of the evil enemy can’t get in. If we do not keep it there, we will not be overcomers.

Jesus is our Saviour and Lord, and He has overcome for us, but we must fight against all the wrong stuff in us and that which comes from the enemy. If you don’t Read, study, pray, excercise holiness/goodness, you will not be protected.

“The righteous will live by faith….” Romans 1:17

 “The strong and powerful prayer of a righteous person, prevails with God..” James 5:16

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”  Psalm 34:17-18

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19

 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteousrun to it and are safe.”  Proverbs 18:10