Who is Jesus?

I was watching TV one day and ran across the show “Reflections” hosted by Hazem Farraj.  Hazem was a Muslim who converted to Christianity.  He gave a wonderful description of who Jesus really is and I wanted to share this with you.  No one could have said it any better.

Jesus is the son of God. 

He was in the beginning and before that He was.
He knows no boundaries and has no limits.
For all eternity He will be with you.
If you are hungry for righteousness, He will fill you.
He will give you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

He is love.

He is the key to peace.
He is the gateway to heaven.
His promises are free.
His love is endless.
His face is glorious.
His light is overwhelming.

Satan fears Him.

Kings don’t understand Him. 
Christians worship Him. 
Presidents admire Him.
Atheists ignore Him. 
Children are attracted to Him. 
Scientists can’t disqualify Him.
Historians can’t erase Him.
Angels bow down to Him.

No boundaries can measure His infinite love.

His love is powerful.
His mercies are new every morning.

If there is a need, He supplies it.
If there is a wound, He cures it.
If there is a doubt, He destroys it.
If you are lonely, He will be with you.
If there is pain, He relates to you.
If there is brokenness, He will mend you.
If you are a sinner, He will save you.
If you are lost, He will find you.
If you are prideful, He will humble you.
If you are humble, He will exalt you.
If you are young, He will watch over you.
If you are old, He will assist you.
If you weep, He will weep with you.
If you are diligent, He will reward you.

When you laugh, He will laugh with you.

He comforts when we are in mourning.
He gives strength to the weak.
He saves sinners.
He heals the sick.
He feeds the hungry.
He encourages the discouraged.
He restores sight to the blind.
He heals lepers.
He frees the captives.
He is all knowing, all powerful, all mighty, and self-sufficient.
He is all seeing.
He is all hearing.
He is the greatest miracle in all of history.
He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

This is who Jesus is.  Don’t you want to know Him?

Spiritual Inventory

This was taken from a wonderful magazine called “Israel My Glory” produced by The Friends of Israel, which communicates biblical truth about Israel and the Messiah, while fostering solidarity with the Jewish people.

Are you discouraged and feeling depressed because of personal or world events?

Maybe it’s time to take a little spiritual inventory. 

If you have truly been born again through faith in Jesus Christ, you have a lot of things to look forward to. 

Here are only 10 of them.  So as you persevere, remember who holds your hand and that He has promised,

“No eye has seen,

   no ear has heard,

no mind has conceived

            what God has prepared for those who love him…”

1 Cor. 2:9

1. You will receive a new body.

1 Cor. 15:52 - “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

2. You will get a custom dwelling place. Every house on Earth requires fixing, but the home He prepares for you will be perfect.

John 14:2-3 - “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not

so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for

you.”

3. You will be like Christ, so you will be unable to sin.

1 John 3:2 - “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

4. You will get to know Bible saints, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Matt. 8:11 - “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”

5. You will see and speak to loved ones who died in the faith.

1 Thess. 4:13-17 - “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.  We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

6. You will live in a perfect world. What lies ahead is so much better that what exists today.

Rev 21 - “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away …..”

7. You will never again suffer heartache, pain, death, broken relationships, or the like –

1 Cor. 15:26 -“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

Rev 7:16-17 - “Never again will they hunger; never again will they

thirst.  The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.  For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”  

8. You will fall for the final time. But rather than falling short, you will fall on your knees in praise.

Rom. 7:15-25 & Phil. 2:10 – “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”

9. You will participate in awesome worship.

Rev. 5:11 – “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.  They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.”

Rev. 7:11-12 – “All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures.  They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen!  Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.  Amen!’ “

10. You will see God!!

Job 19:26 – “And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;”

1 John 3:2 – “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

Where to find it in the Bible

I have been asked several times where to find different things in the Bible.  I compiled this list (although it is not complete) that might helpful.

Abortion

Ps. 139:13-16 – “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Jer. 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Acts 17:26 – “From one man he made every nation of men that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.”

Armor of God

Eph. 6:11-18

Assurance of Salvation

John 5:24; 6:37; 10:27-30; 20-31, Rom. 8:16, 31, 35-39; Heb. 13:5; 1 John 5:11-12

Battle of Armageddon

Rev. 14:14-20; 16:16

Beatitudes

Matt. 5:3-12; Luke 6:20-26

Bible Author

2 Tim. 3:14-16 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Peter 1:20-21 – “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation.  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Creation

Gen. 1-2 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth….”

Col. 1:16 – “For by Him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by Him and for Him.”

Dinosaurs

Job 40:15-24 – behemoth (dinosaurs), 41 leviathan (dinosaurs)

Divorce and Remarriage

Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Malachi 2:15-16, Matt. 5:31-32, Luke 16:18

Faith

Rom. 4:3; 10:17, Eph. 2:8-9, Heb. 11, Heb 11:1 – “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”, 6; 12:2, James 1:3-6, 1 Peter 1:7

Fall of Man

Gen. 3

Fruit of the Spirit

Gal. 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Golden Rule

Matt. 7:12; Luke 6:31 – “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Hell or Lake of Fire

Daniel 12:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2Thessalonians 1:7-7; Luke 16:24; Matthew 3:12; 5:22; 7:13; 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 25:46; 18:8-9; Mark 9:48; Luke 3:7, 17; 16:28; Romans 5:9; Revelation 14:11; 19:20; 20:10, 14-15; 21:8, 14

Homosexuality

Gen. 19:1-13; Lev. 18:22-30; 20:13; Romans 1:18-32 – “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.  Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.  Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion…….” (v24-27). “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”(v32). Notice it says those who approve of those who practice such things also deserve death.

1 Cor. 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:8-11

Idolatry

Idolatry is anything you put before God.

Col. 3:5 – “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.”

Jesus is the only way

Acts 4:12; John 3:17; 18:24; 10:14-16; 14:6 – “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.’”; Rom. 10:9; Eph. 2:5

Jesus’ appearance after resurrection

Matt. 28; Luke 24; John 20-21; Mark 16; Acts; 1 Cor. 15

Lord’s Prayer

Matt. 6:9-15; Luke 11:1-13

Lord’s Supper

Matt. 26:26-29; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26

Lose Salvation?

John 10::29; Rom 8:38-39; Heb 6:4-8; Eph 1:4; 1 John 5:13 – that you know you have eternal life

Love

John 3:16; 15:9-14; Rom. 5:8; 8:35-39; 1 Cor. 13 (known as the love chapter); 1 John 3:1

Man’s purpose on earth

God created us for His pleasure and our purpose is to glorify Him and have joy in Him and Him in us.  He loves us and He wants us to love Him back.

1 John 4:7-21

Marriage / Premarital Sex

Ex. 20:14; Lev. 20:10; Deu. 22:13-30; Job 31:1, 9-12; Prov. 5:1-23; 6:20-35; 7:1-27; Matt. 5:27-30; Eph 5:5-5; Heb. 13:4 – keep it pure, 1 Cor. 6:8; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Rev. 21:8

Plan of Salvation

Isaiah 55:7; John 1:12; 3:3; 5:24; Rom. 10:9-10, 13; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelation 3:20

Prayer

Ecc. 5:2; Jer. 29:13; Matt. 6:7; Luke 18:1; Rom. 8:26-27; Mark 11:24; James 5:16

Predestination/Chosen/Election

Romans 8:29-30; Eph. 1:3-6, 11; Acts 4:27-28; Matthew 22:1-14; 24:22, 24, 32; John 15:16;

Rev. 17:14

Rapture

1 Cor. 15:51-57; 1 Thess. 4:13-18

Return of Christ

Luke 21:34-36; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:8-14; 1 John 3:2-3

Satan’s fall

Isaiah 14:12-15

Saved by grace

Grace is unmerited favor.

Ephesians 2:4-5, 8 – “For it is by grace you have been saved.”

Second Death

Revelation 21:8 – “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.  This is the second death.”

Sovereignty of God

Psalm 103:19; Daniel 4:34-35; Isaiah 40:23; 46:8-11; Romans 10:36

God is:

Omniscient – all knowing, total knowledge

Omnipotent – all powerful

Omnipresence – everywhere present

Immutable – unchangeable

Infinitely holy and righteous

Spiritual Gifts

Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-14; 40, Eph. 4:11-12; 1 Peter 4:10

Tattoos

Leviticus 19:28 – “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves.  I am the Lord.”

Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:13 - God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but when tempted He will provide a way out for you.

Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:1-26

Testing

Exodus 20:20; Judges 2:21; 1 Peter 1:7

Tribulation Period

Daniel 9:24-27; Revelation 11:2-3; 13:5 – The tribulation period will be 42 months.

Troubles/Suffering

2 Corinthians 4:17 – We should be happy, our troubles are achieving our eternal Glory

2 Corinthians 1:8-11, 12:7-10 – So we will rely on God

1 Thessalonians 3:3 – Trials are God’s plan

James 1:2-4 – So we will be mature

5 reasons God allows suffering –

1.      A Common thing – Job 5:7

2.     Corrective – Ps 119:67

3.     To glorify Christ – John 9:13

4.     Cosmic – Job 1-2

5.     Constructive – Rom 5:3-4

Why did Jesus do miracles?

John 2:11, 11:40 – To reveal His glory

Will Christians be judged?

Romans 8:1 – “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Witchcraft

Exodus 22:18; Deu. 18:10; Micah 5:12; Malachi 3:5; Gal. 5:20; Rev. 21:8; 22:5

Worry

Matthew. 6:25; Psalm 34:10; Phil. 4:19 – God will provide

2 Peter and Jude

2 Peter 1 and Jude 1-2 – Growing in Truth

Principle:  Believers grow in faith and Christ-like virtue by obeying God’s Word.

2 Peter 2 and Jude 3-16 – Contending for Faith

Principle:  Believers can only contend for faith and reject false teaching by knowing God’s Word.

1 Peter 3 and Jude 17-25 – Living for Christ’s Return

Principle:  Living for return of Christ involves preparing other for His arrival.

Peter writes this letter knowing he would die soon.  He died on a cross about 35 years after Jesus ascended to heaven.  He wrote to the same Christians as his first letter.  They were not only in danger of persecution, but in danger of being confused by false teaching.  He taught that in the last days there would be many scoffers not believing that Jesus would return, but that He would come when they least expected it – like a thief in the night.  They were to stand firm in their faith and be on guard so they would not be deceived. 

2 Peter 1

He opens his letter with grace and peace to them, because he wanted them to have more of it through the knowledge of God and of Jesus.  This is a very clear statement of the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace means God’s kindness to people who do not deserve it.  It means that God loves and forgives and that He helps and protects His people.  Peace is the opposite of war.  God gives Christians a quiet spirit that is in every part of a person’s life and relationships.  We have peace with God and with each other.  No one can have true peace without grace.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has give us his very great and precious promises…” – (2 Peter 1:3-4).  His great and precious promises are:  that we will be delivered from a corrupt world and our evil desires, we are renewed in Him, God dwells in us, He’s made us holy, the glory that is to come, we’re saved by grace, we’re heirs with Christ, He loves us in spite of our failures, He will meet our every need, He will return and many many more.  He has given us everything we need to live a holy life.

Peter describes the character of a Christian.  “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” – (2 Peter 1:5-7).  Does your faith reflect these virtues?  He wants them to be all the more eager to make their calling and election sure.  If they do these things, they will never fall and will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord. 

He is reminding them to refresh their memory, because he knew he would die soon. – (2 Peter 1:14).  Peter has true knowledge speaking the truth about the power and coming of Jesus Christ, because he and others were eyewitnesses of His majesty.  He was there when Jesus received honor and glory from God in His transfiguration, when a voice came down from heaven and said, “This is my Son, whom I am well pleased.” – (2 Peter 1:16-21).  We have the words of prophets and should pay attention to them.  “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture come about by the prophet’s own interpretation.  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” – (2 Peter 1:20-21).

How would people tell that you have true knowledge of Jesus Christ?

Can they tell by the fruit in your life?

2 Peter 2

Peter warned the Christians about false teachers.  There will be wide-spread success of these false teachers and many will follow their shameful ways.  They will dispute the truth of God.  They are greedy and will exploit with made up stories.  Several times Peter said that God will punish them severely.   He says that false teachers bring swift destruction from God on themselves. – (2 Peter 2:2-3).  God will punish them.  They offer cheap grace.  God’s grace is costly.

God didn’t even spare wicked angels when they sinned, but sent them to Hell or Tartarus (the very lowest pit). – (2 Peter 2:4; Gen. 6:4; Jude 6).  God brought judgment to the ungodly by sending the flood upon the world, but saved Noah who was a preacher of righteousness and his family. – (2 Peter 2:5; Gen. 6-7).  He punished Sodom and Gomorrah for their sexual immorality.  He turned Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes by raining on them fire and brimstone. – (2 Peter 2:6; Gen. 18-19). 

False teachers satisfy the wicked desires of their bodies.  They do not obey authority, especially God’s authority.  They do what they want.  They pretend to know a lot about God, but know little.  They have no moral standards.  They are greedy and never stop sinning.  They are compared to animals.  God will destroy them. – (2  Peter 2:10-22).

“If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.  It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” – (2 Peter 2:20-21).  This means they were never true children of God.  True believers cannot lose their salvation!  They had no inward new birth and no transformation took place.  They professed to know the Lord, but did not forsake their evil ways.  They never accepted Jesus with a living faith.  This describes many false teachers today.  They think they know Jesus, but were never born again or experienced real salvation.

There were false teachers even in the church.  There are still false teachers in the church today.  So Christians should heed Peter’s warning.  Why are people willing to listen?  It is very sad that many people are willing to listen to false teachings and will follow.  False teachers appeal to the lustful desires of human nature.  They entice people and make promises they can’t keep.  People don’t listen to the truth, because they don’t like what they hear.  People don’t want to hear about Hell.  They think they are good people.  They say the Bible is not true today.  They reason that God is a good God, but Jesus can’t be the only way.  They say that God doesn’t care if they go to church.  They think they deserve to be happy and don’t deserve the wrath of God.

What are you venerable for false teaching because your faith is weak?

How can we avoid being deceived?  Know the Word of God and don’t fall for the lies.  Stay in His Word and pray often.

How do you stand attacks on your faith?

2 Peter 3

Peter is writing this letter as reminders to stimulate wholesome thinking.  He wanted them to remember the words of the prophets and the command of the Lord that in the last days there would be many false teachers. – (2 Peter 3:1-3).  They will ridicule and scoff at the idea that Jesus will return.  A scoffer is one who mocks the truth.  Do you know any scoffers?

When is He coming?  “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends:  With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – (2 Peter 3:8-9).  Bear in mind that the Lord’s patience means salvation. – (2 Peter 3:15-16).  The Day of the Lord is coming and we need to be prepared.  We should live holy and godly lives as we look forward to His coming. – (2 Peter 3:11-13).  We should make every effort to be found spotless and blameless. – (2 Peter 3:14).  We should be on guard so we won’t be deceived by lawless men and fall from our secure position. – (2 Peter 3:17-18).

Jude

Jude was a brother of Jesus.  His letter is much like Peter’s warning Christians about false teachers and wanted them to look forward to the last days, because God promised to multiply His grace, peace and mercy.

As in Peter Jude reminds us of three lessons of the past.  1) God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, but destroyed those who did not believe; 2) Angels who did not keep their positions of authority were punished; 3) God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah by fire for their sins. – (Jude 5-7).

Jude lists the sins of false teachers.  They pollute their bodies, reject authority, slander celestial beings, speak against what they do not understand, they are like Cain, they are blemishes, feeding only themselves, they are clouds without rain and trees without fruit. – (Jude 8-13).  God’s judgment will come on them and they will be cast into Hell forever.  They are always complaining and finding fault with others.  They are greedy and prideful.  They follow their own desires and boast about themselves. – (Jude 16).  These false teachers will suffer God’s punishment and will be cast into Hell forever.

Do you know anyone like that?

Do you grumble and complain?

Do you blame on others?

Jude gives us advice of how to persevere.  We are to remember what the apostles foretold.  We are to build ourselves up in our most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  We are to keep ourselves in God’s love as we wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring us to eternal life.  We are to be help weaker believers who doubt. – (Jude 17-22).

Jude ends his letter with four qualities of God:  God’s glory, God’s majesty, God’s power, God’s authority.  He reminds us that God is all powerful now and always.  Now and always emphasizes God’s total and complete command of everything.

Are you prepared for Jesus’ return?

If He comes tonight, where will you go – Heaven or Hell?

How will you discern between truth and lies?

Do you minimize sin in your life?

Do you live afraid of Judgment Day?

How will you help prepare others for His coming?

Don’t be afraid of these attacks on your faith.  Be prepared!

Holy Week

My BSF class is taking a spring break for a week.  I will miss the fellowship with my sisters, but this week however is a special week in history called Holy Week.  This week changed the world. 

Our Savior, Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem knowing He would die for us.  What a sacrifice that was.  He went willing obeying God’s will because He loves us so much.  He died on the cross on what we call Good Friday.  God said the penalty for sin is death.  This paid our debt to God giving all who believe in Him, eternal life in Christ Jesus.  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – (Romans 5:8).  Then three days later He came back to life.  We call this the resurrection.  That was the first Easter.  Scriptures on His death, crucifixion, burial and resurrection are found in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19.

The world looks at Easter with egg hunts, brunches, baskets for the children.  We buy Easter flowers and Easter dresses.  More people attend church on Easter than any other Sunday.  This is the Sunday you need to invite someone to church.  If they are not a Christian or a church goer, this is the Sunday they will probably say yes to your invitation.  Maybe they are just waiting for someone to invite them. 

Do we really stop and think how wonderful this day really is?  Without the resurrection we would just have another man-made dead religion.  Think on the meaning of this special week and attempt to say in His presence.  Satan will do everything he can to distract you from its real meaning.  Don’t let the world trap you with meaningless things. 

Jesus was despised and rejected.  We turned our backs on Him.  He was hated and we didn’t care.  Yet He still carried our weaknesses and sin.  Don’t crucify Him again.  Satan’s strategy has always been to distort the truth and separate us from God.  Don’t fall for it!  God’s redemption is simple.  He loves us and died for us.  All we have to do is repent, believe and trust Him; follow His example and be baptized; worship Him; honor Him and the devil will lose all his power over you. 

After He paid for the sin of the world, God’s righteous judgment was satisfied.  He arose victorious.  Death had no hold on Him.  Now, He offers everyone eternal life and perfect peace with God when they are willing to repent and believe in Him.  Have you done that yet?

If you are a Christian, death has no hold on you.  Jesus is coming again to take you to be with Him in glory forever.  On Easter morning shout Hallelujah!  He is risen!  He is risen indeed!

Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne. “ – (Revelation 3: 20-21)

Jesus changed the world.  Let Him change your life!

Ephesians 6:10-24

Ephesians 6:10-13 – The Battle

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” – (Eph. 6:10).  How do we do that?  We should trust Him in all things and believe in what He says.  Paul tells us to put on the full Armor of God so when evil comes, we will be able to stand our ground and not be deceived.  We should also study His Word, pray, give Him control and be united with fellow sisters and brothers.

The devil is very crafty and a master of deception.  He is the ruler of the world, the father of lies, a deceiver and a murderer.  He is the enemy!  He’s out to get us on his side and away from God.  We need to be aware and be on-guard so we won’t give in to his deceptions.  He is very good at what he does.  In Gen. 3 he caused Eve to doubt and question God.  In 2 Sam. 11 he distracted David by staying home from battle and when he did, Satan caused him to lust.  In Dan. 4 Satan caused the king to be prideful and praised himself instead of God.  In Matt. 4 he tempted Jesus even using God’s own words.  We should not underestimate the devil.   He’s working very hard to snare people, because he knows he’s running out of time and he knows God will win the ultimate battle.

When we first believed, Jesus came to live inside us and now we are a target for the enemy of God, but Satan was defeated at the cross.  He hates us, because we are Christians.  He schemes for believers and is set to destroy.  There is a battle going on for those who belong to Jesus.  He even tempted Jesus.  God allows him to roam the earth with his demons.  God promises to fully equip us with His presence and resources.  The more we know God and recognize Satan’s work the more we understand Satan schemes. 

Satan has many schemes.  He can cause us to doubt God and His trustworthiness.  He brings false teachings.  If the teaching is slightly truthful, then we think it must be OK.  He makes it hard to live as a Christian.  He hinders the work of the ministry of Jesus working against our efforts for God.  He wants you to live the way the world does with its pleasures, hypocrisies and being independent of God.  He discourages us when we are lonely, have free time, facing death, etc.

Do you doubt God’s love?

Has He asked you to serve, but you say you don’t have time?

Ephesians 6:13-17 – The Battle Armor

Should we fear Satan?  No.  God has given us the full Armor of God for our defense as a weapons against him.  If we use these weapons, he cannot harm us.  These weapons are:

Belt of Truth – Know God’s true Word so you won’t be deceived.  The truth holds us up in battle.

Breastplate of Righteousness – When we receive salvation, we receive the righteousness of God.  It protects us.  None of us are righteous on our own.  We should live and reflect His righteousness.  Right living is a protection for your heart.     

Feet fitted with Readiness – By knowing the Word you can be ready when Satan attacks.  Be ready and willing to share the good news with others.

Shield of Faith – Faith is our trust in God.  Our shield is as big as our trust in God.  If we have faith, we are protected from Satan’s flaming arrows.  How big is your shield?  Do you find your faith is protecting you?

Helmet of Salvation – The enemy wants to destroy your salvation.  Salvation is our hope.  He wants to attack our hope and our mind.  The helmet is the security of our mind. 

Sword of the Spirit – This is the an offensive weapon, God’s Word.  Satan cannot win against God's Holy Word.  Stab those threats with the Word of God! 

Why is the Word of God so powerful?  It’s the revelation of God.  It assures us a win.

Why does the enemy work so hard?  He doesn’t want us to know and believe in the power of God.  He knows he only has a short time before his ultimate defeat.

How can you apply God’s Armor?  Believe, put your faith and trust in Jesus, know His Word, stay in His Word, listen and obey the Holy Spirit, stand firm and don’t be deceived, pray for strength and guidance, pray in all circumstances, pray for others and don’t let Satan get a foothold.  “Submit yourselves, then to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” – (James 4:7)

Have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior?

If you are a Christian, where is your soft spot?  Is it fear, anger, control, being all things to all people?

How are you going to draw on the protection of His Armor?

Is your Belt unbuckled?

Are you living with peace in God?

Who is robbing you of your peace?

Ephesians 6:18-24 – The Battle of Prayer and Platoon

Prayer is the key.  We are to be good soldiers for God.  He is the Commander-in-Chief.  We need to be in prayer.  He saved us because He wants to fellowship with us.  That’s prayer.

“And pray in the Spirit an all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” – (Eph. 6:18).  How can you pray for someone, if you don’t know them?  We need to be alert to the needs of others so we will know what to pray for.  We also need to be alert to what’s going on around us in the world to pray more effectively.

Paul asks the Ephesians to pray that God would give him the words to speak the gospel and that he speak with boldness and without fear.  We should pray for the same things.  It is very important that we pray!  We can be a witness and plant the seed.  It is the Holy Spirit who convicts.  We need to let God to do His work.  We should pray this for ourselves and other believers.  When we pray, it also changes us making us closer to God and more compassionate toward others.

How willing are you to ask for prayer from others?

How trust worthy are you as you pray for them?

What hinders your prayer life?

Have you prayed and prayed for something and it seems that God is not answering?  Don’t stop praying.  Eph. 6:18 says to keep on praying.  There is no out.  The enemy says, “Well you tried so move on.”  Pray and trust the will of God.  It’s up to God not you.  Don’t give up on your prayer.

Principles:

Believers are never alone in the battle of life.

Believers are fully equipped in Christ to stand firm in the battle of life.

Living in a constant dialogue with God gives perspective and power for the battle of life.