Discover The Book MinistriesSWS-15 160306AM How God Prepares Us to Stand Against the Darkness of This Age Matthew 6:13b; Ephesians 6:10-17 From American history we read of the treatment of the guests of newspaper baron, William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) at his famous castle in on the coast of California. After the overwhelming ride up the switchback road […]
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How To – Read, Study, Memorize, Meditate & Use the Word of God for Transforming Your Life Each Day
Today look at one of my most favorite doctrines in the Bible.
I love the Bible because I love the Author, God Himself.
I love the theme of the Bible, because He is my Savior.
I love the power of the Bible because it has the words that lead to endless life.
I love the impact the Bible makes, because each time we eat of it our hearts rejoice.
WHAT is the “Sword of the Spirit”, WHY Does God Call It “Armor”, & HOW Do We “Take” it Up?
This morning we are looking at the sixth and final piece of our spiritual armor in Ephesians 6. But before we start examining the sword of the Spirit, do you remember the wider context of the book of Ephesians?
Considering One Another – How To Get Stirred, How To Be Stirring, & How To Stay Stirred
Tonight our goal is to practice the words from God in Hebrews 10:24-25.
As we turn there we are looking at the simple reality of applying God’s Word.
How do we stir up others for God?
God says we are all to have as our goal, every time we gather that we are to think about our mandate, or our mission from God as we gather:
1. How to Considering One Another:
2. How to Get Stirred.
3. How to Stir Others.
4. How to Stay Stirred
Taking the Shield of Faith, Quenching the Fiery Darts & Standing for God – How Did the Battle Go This Week?
God Says Satan is Alive and Well on Planet Earth
Satan is alive and well on planet earth today.
As Prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), his silent army of demon invaders swirl through the air. Around us lurk those infernal warriors of the Kingdom of Darkness.
These are not science fiction aliens.
Rather, as super strong extra-terrestrial intelligent beings, their aim is clear.
Their shocking strategy is so powerful, normal humans would pale if aware of it.
These twisted demon hordes are even more deadly than a terrorist’s attack.
They are locked on course.
Their target is the human mind, the control center of every human being on the planet.
Do You Have the Peace God Offers That Overwhelms All Anxieties
SWS-19 160508AM Do You Have the Peace God Offers, That Overwhelms All Anxieties? Ephesians 6:15[1] The Peace God offers Peace is Tied to God’s Word Psalm 119:165 (NKJV) Great peace have they Peace is anchored by a Godward Mind Isaiah 26:3-4 (NKJV) perfect peace stayed Peace is Tied to faith in Christ’s work on the […]
How To Stand Firm In The Lord – Wearing The Belt Of Truth
SWS-17 160424AM How to Stand Firm in the Lord: wearing the Belt of truth Ephesians 6:14 Are you aware[1] that this morning Satan wants to poison your thoughts and emotions away from the purity of God’s truth? His attacks center in two areas: your mind and your emotions. Jesus calls Satan the Father of […]
How God Uses the Full Armor of God to Deliver Us from the Evil One
One of the touching stories of human courage and sacrifice came from the 2011 meltdown of the Japanese Fukushima reactors. In an effort to save countless other lives, one team of engineers entered the stricken reactor room and feverishly tried to stop any further radiation leaks. Their calls and emails indicated that they knew that if they stayed too long their lives would succumb to ARS (acute Radiation Syndrome), that took out dozens of similarly tasked Chernobyl workers in 1986.
How Are You Dressed Spiritually – Clothed With Christ’s Compassion & Rid Of Any Bitterness?
God is really into how we are dressed and what we wear.
Paul explains that truth as he makes a powerful statement in Romans 13:14 (NKJV), look at it with me for a moment:
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
The Justifying Death of Christ Opens for me the Sanctifying Life of Christ – The Sword of the Spirit Explained in Psalm 119
161113AM SWS-37 The Justifying Death of Christ Opens for me the Sanctifying Life of Christ: The Sword of the Spirit Explained in Psalm 119 Ephesians 6:17 & Psalm 119 We are looking at the final piece of our spiritual armor from Ephesians 6:17, which is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of […]
Psalm 119 – The Bible’s Longest Chapter is a Spiritual Diary on How to Use God’s Word as the Sword of the Spirit
161016AM SWS-36 Psalm 119: Ezra’s Spiritual Diary on How to Use God’s Word as the Sword of the Spirit Ephesians 6:17 & Psalm 119 What does the Sword of the Spirit look like when used in the life of a believer? Psalm 119: The Bible’s Longest Chapter is a Spiritual Diary on How to Use […]
Unleashing the Transforming Power of God’s Word into Your Life – Exemplified by Ezra
161002AM SWS-35 Unleashing the Transforming Power of God’s Word into Your Life: Exemplified by Ezra Ephesians 6:17 & 2 Timothy 3:16-17 God wants us to survive the active war zone we must live in. He wants us to not be wounded, devoured, distracted, and neutralized. What is His plan? We Wear the Armor He gives […]
Unleashing the Transforming Power of God’s Word into Your Life – Exemplified by Jeremiah
161002AM SWS-34 Unleashing the Transforming Power of God’s Word into Your Life: Exemplified by Jeremiah Ephesians 6:17 What does the Sword of the Spirit look like when used in the life of a believer? The Scriptures give us many amazing examples to learn from. Each one found the Scriptures profitable for doctrine (what’s right), for […]
Withstanding the Evil One By Understanding Our Identity in Christ
As we open God’s Word to Ephesians 6:10-17 we are looking at the amazing new life, new beginning, and completely new identity God gave us when we were saved.
When all systems are functioning properly, all the dimensions of being new creations in Christ are astounding.
God’s Plan for Every Believer
Wearing the Truths of Salvation as My Helmet
Take Up Your Helmet Daily
If you have never tried this, I’d encourage you to start a new dimension of your spiritual life by starting one of the more wonderful spiritual exercises you can ever do.
As you begin each day, one of our greatest privileges is to take up the helmet of the salvation God has given to us.
Living Out the New You – Our Identity in Christ
As we open God’s Word to Ephesians 6:10-17 we are looking at the NEW you.
God wants us to know how to live out the new you of our identity in Christ
Living Out the NEW You
God explains the realities of the spiritual world in which we live.
Why We Should Never Feel Guilty, Hopeless, Fearful, Lonely, Aimless, or Useless
As we open in our Bibles to Ephesians 6:17, we are opening to the passage about what should become more and more, the most precious part of the daily outfit we wear.
The Helmet of Salvation is to be the constant reminder of our new identity in Christ.
When God saved us, He made us a new creation.
Extinguished or Burning – How to Resist the Evil One’s Attacks
Paul gives the insight that explains our struggles throughout our earthly lives as we look at Ephesians 6:16. Think about what we have read so many times:
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one
Now, apply the simple methods of Bible study. How many truths can you find in this one verse?
Wearing the Helmet of Salvation – Clinging to God’s Securing Promises
As Bonnie & I set out for our ride through the shaded woods and sunny breezes of the tall grass prairies of the Al Sabo Nature reserve, we had no idea of the spiritual lessons we would glean.
Moments after gliding onto the Texas Township Bikeway we crossed paths with some serious bikers. They had the gear, the cadence, and the helmets.
We had none of those things. But, they swept past us so quickly they hardly saw us.
The Simple-Faith Shield that Works Each Time We Use It
As we open to Colossians 2, we need to learn a practical lesson about how to apply spiritual truths from God’s Word, to our lives. Pause and think of that word “spiritual”.
Spiritual Warfare.
Spiritual Armor.
Spiritual Life.
Spiritual; spiritual; spiritual.
Does “Spiritual” Sometimes Sound Distant & Hard to Grasp?
Learning How to Extinguish Satan’s Fiery Attacks by Faith
God’s Word shows us how God wants us to live.
If we want to learn how to extinguish Satan’s fiery darts, God shows us through the lives of those in the pages of Scripture, how they did it.
Peter Resisted Satan Devouring Him: By Faith
Peter died a martyr.
Facing Flaming Arrows as Connected, Communicating, & Caring Believers
Please open with me to Ephesians 6:10-17.
As we turn there, we will see a truth that just jumps off the pages of the Scriptures once you see it: every verb & pronoun (all 14 of them) in this armor passage is plural.
Why Do We as Believers Sometimes Lack God’s Perfect Peace in Our Daily Lives
The God of Peace wants us to follow,
The Prince of Peace, who gave to us,
The Gospel of Peace, so that the fruit of
The Spirit of Peace can bear fruit in our lives so that
The Perfect Peace of God surrounds our lives each day.
That is the preparation of the Gospel of Peace (Eph. 6:15) that we are to wear, firmly tied onto our feet as we walk through life.
Examing Ourselves – Are You Wearing Righteousness as a Breastplate
Today is one of those times when the passage of Scripture we are studying, and the communion service to follow exactly match up.
Each time we come to communion we have been instructed to do something: we are to check and see if we are wearing specifically the second piece of our spiritual armor, and indirectly all the other pieces.
Are You Getting Ready To Stand in the Evil Days Ahead?
Have you noticed how dark it is getting in our land these days? Sins once unspeakably bad are now badges of honor. Things God said merit endless wrath are now the goals of an entire segment of society.
God’s Armor, Satan’s Attacks & Our Choices
Part of our asking God to protect us, delivering us from the evil one is tied to some choices. Choices to flee, choices to stay vigilant, and choices to put on the armor God has prepared, described, and commanded us to wear.
Why Should We Be Praying Every Day For God To Deliver Us And Every Believer We Know From The Evil One
Jesus framed the contrast between His plans and Satan’s plans.
Jesus said that each day we live, we face a life or death situation.
John 10:10 (NKJV) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Roaring Lion – What Can Satan Do to Us, as Believers, If We Don’t Seek God’s Protection?
What Can Satan Do to Us, as Believers, If We Don’t Seek God’s Protection?
That is our focus today.
Today the most cunning terrorist in the Universe is stalking us as Christ’s followers.
As we open to 1 Peter 5 we learn that Satan is not only God’s adversary, he is ours.
He is coming after each of us who leave the door open to him.
He can devour us at any time we let the defensive perimeter down.
He is able to penetrate any safe room, secure location, and security system.
Following Christ – The Path Jesus Left For Our Safety
The simplest description of what we are as Christians comes from Christ’s first call to those first disciples in Matthew 4:19. Jesus explains the new life He was offering, and the salvation He was purchasing, and the Gospel of repentance He was preaching.
Temptations, God’s Faithfulness, & Satan’s Ancient Playbook
This week as I waited for the doctor and my annual physical the nurse went through the standard checklist of vital signs of my health. We all know them: blood work, temperature, weight, pulse, blood pressure.
Lessons from Christ’s Temptation for Our Resisting the Devil’s Attacks
As we open in our Bibles to Matthew 4, we look today at Christ’s temptation.
Jesus was tempted and resisted sin; we do not[1].
We are tempted and sin because we have sin dwelling within us.
How Do We Find God’s Arms Open Wide When We Face Our Greatest Temptations?
As we open our copies of God’s Holy and Inerrant Word to Matthew 6, we are opening to the best known passage in the Bible.
The Lord’s Prayer is not only almost universally known, these verses also provide the complete guide to our spiritual health, given to us by Jesus Christ Himself.
We’ve Said it All Our Life, but What Does it Mean to Ask God to “Lead Us Not…”
In Matthew 6:13 we open to the sixth petition of the Lord’s Prayer. This part of the prayer model Christ Jesus left us sometimes puzzling. It is something we have said all our life, and perhaps puzzled over from time to time.
We All Know What Temptation Means. Right?
Are We Enjoying The Kind, Tender, Forgiving Life That God Gave To Us Believers?
Do you all remember Ephesians 2:8-9? Say it with me (NKJV):
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
We are Saved By God’s Grace
Salvation is the most amazing work of God in the Universe. Stars are great, galaxies are amazing, atoms are intricately constructed, and DNA is a wonder of Divine engineering; but salvation is so incomprehensible that, even the angels are in wonder and desire to fully understand what God offers to us.
What Is Spiritual Warfare And Why Do We Need Armor?
SWS-02 151108AM. SWS-1 Unleashing the Lord’s Prayer What is Spiritual Warfare & Why Do We Need Armor? Matthew 6:9-13, 1 Peter 5:8-9 Jesus summarized the seven key areas each of us who follow Him should pay close attention to each day. Please open to that summary Jesus Himself gave to us in Matthew 6:9-13. This […]
Daily Cleansing – The Abundant Life Vs. The Tormented Life
As we open to Matthew 6, we have come to the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer in v. 12. This petition is all about the constant need we have for cleansing. This next area we are to maintain in our spiritual lives is all part of:
Christ’s Checklist for Daily Spiritual Health
Simply stated, the Lord’s Prayer is a pattern for us, a check list for our daily spiritual health.
Unleashing the Lord’s Prayer into Changing My Life Today
Jesus summarized the seven key areas each of us who follow Him should pay close attention to each day. Please open to that summary Jesus Himself gave to us in Matthew 6:9-13. This passage is what we commonly know in the English-speaking world as the Lord’s Prayer.
To help us focus on the text of our study today please stand and quote these words with me as we invite God through His Word to speak powerfully into our hearts, minds, and lives today.
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