Eph. 6:18 Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.
Let’s admit it; we don’t pray at all times and on every occasion. Most of us are quite the opposite. We crowd praying into our lives the best we can, but we don’t do a very good job of it. Some of us feel guilty about it when we think about it, but many of us don’t.
Most of us know what prayer is, but I would like to suggest some other thoughts for you to consider. Prayer is our reaching up to God. It is our embracing God in our lives. It is the desires of our heart for God. It is the soul crying out in need for God. It is a time in which we align our will up with God’s. It is a time in which we become broken and humble before God knowing we cannot do anything apart from Him. It is what we do in life to honor Christ. Prayer is an attitude of the heart seeking to live a godly life. It is an attitude of praise and thanksgiving before God. All that we do in and through Christ ought to be an act of worship, a sweet aroma ascending to the throne of God.
Prayer is done through the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is the Spirit that guides our prayer life. It is the Spirit that puts our thoughts and words into words that move God to act. It is the Spirit who empowers us and enables us to labor in prayer for others.
We must never let down our guard when it comes to prayer. Satan will do all he can do to keep us from praying. He tries his best to discourage us from praying. His greatest fear is that we would pray and not give up. He knows that prayer is our life connection to God. He knows that when we pray persistently God’s work in us and in the world will be done.
Prayer should be a major part of our lives, not an add-on. It should characterize who we are. Stay alert and pray much; pray for Christians everywhere. Satan is persistent in trying to discourage and defeat Christians everywhere and we can help one another in a powerful way by praying for each other consistently.
Monday, February 29, 2016
Sunday, February 28, 2016
EQUIPPED FOR WAR
Eph. 6:13 Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.
If we don’t use every piece of God’s armor to resist Satan, we don’t have anyone to blame when we stumble and fall. God has provided for us ample resources to ward off all of Satan’s blows. The ability of God to help us is not the problem, we are the problem. We simply do not utilize the resources God has provided for us. We don’t spend the time in the Word we need. We don’t pray earnestly before God in repentance and need. We don’t believe that God can or will help us. We don’t spend time in fellowship with other believers who can encourage us and help us. We pay little heed to those who have already been through our battles and have come through them victoriously.
It doesn’t take much intelligence to know that if we refuse the help God provides for us we are not going to be able to stand firmly on righteous ground. We are going to grow weak and sin against God. We cannot resist Satan on our own power. The forces of evil are way too strong for us to withstand.
We are constantly engaged in a spiritual war. We cannot escape it. The world is Satan’s playground. If we are not in the war to win, we will lose. Our only hope is to stay close to the heart of God, feasting on the riches of grace, putting on the full armor of His provision for us. Without a determined commitment to overcoming the evil all around us and that which creeps into our hearts, we will never know the victory that is ours in Christ.
If we don’t use every piece of God’s armor to resist Satan, we don’t have anyone to blame when we stumble and fall. God has provided for us ample resources to ward off all of Satan’s blows. The ability of God to help us is not the problem, we are the problem. We simply do not utilize the resources God has provided for us. We don’t spend the time in the Word we need. We don’t pray earnestly before God in repentance and need. We don’t believe that God can or will help us. We don’t spend time in fellowship with other believers who can encourage us and help us. We pay little heed to those who have already been through our battles and have come through them victoriously.
It doesn’t take much intelligence to know that if we refuse the help God provides for us we are not going to be able to stand firmly on righteous ground. We are going to grow weak and sin against God. We cannot resist Satan on our own power. The forces of evil are way too strong for us to withstand.
We are constantly engaged in a spiritual war. We cannot escape it. The world is Satan’s playground. If we are not in the war to win, we will lose. Our only hope is to stay close to the heart of God, feasting on the riches of grace, putting on the full armor of His provision for us. Without a determined commitment to overcoming the evil all around us and that which creeps into our hearts, we will never know the victory that is ours in Christ.
Saturday, February 27, 2016
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Eph. 6:10-12 A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
It is so easy to minimize the warfare that is going on in our souls and in the world. Just because we can't physically see it happen, we tend to ignore it. It is not easy to live in victory in Satan's world! There is never a time on earth in which there is a ceasefire. Satan does not need sleep like we do. He is always on the prowl seeking whom he may devour. We immediately become easy prey when we let down our guard and try to live within our power and strength.
Only the Lord has the power to overcome Satan. Only the Lord can send Satan away in defeat. We must put on all of God's armor if we are going to prevail. We dare not leave any of what God provides for us behind. We need His righteousness, Word, fellowship, wisdom, and purity of heart. We need to stay continuously immersed in Christ and never leave His protective care.
The forces of evil are everywhere and they are way more than we can handle on our own. Don't ever underestimate the power and evilness of Satan, and never overestimate your power and strength to fight him.. You will fall into sin every time you encounter temptation on your own.
Don't underestimate the power of the Lord to help you. He is able to deliver you from whatever Satan throws at you. In Christ you will overcome your temptations to sin every time. In Christ, Satan cannot harm you. In Christ you will find protection for your soul.
It is so easy to minimize the warfare that is going on in our souls and in the world. Just because we can't physically see it happen, we tend to ignore it. It is not easy to live in victory in Satan's world! There is never a time on earth in which there is a ceasefire. Satan does not need sleep like we do. He is always on the prowl seeking whom he may devour. We immediately become easy prey when we let down our guard and try to live within our power and strength.
Only the Lord has the power to overcome Satan. Only the Lord can send Satan away in defeat. We must put on all of God's armor if we are going to prevail. We dare not leave any of what God provides for us behind. We need His righteousness, Word, fellowship, wisdom, and purity of heart. We need to stay continuously immersed in Christ and never leave His protective care.
The forces of evil are everywhere and they are way more than we can handle on our own. Don't ever underestimate the power and evilness of Satan, and never overestimate your power and strength to fight him.. You will fall into sin every time you encounter temptation on your own.
Don't underestimate the power of the Lord to help you. He is able to deliver you from whatever Satan throws at you. In Christ you will overcome your temptations to sin every time. In Christ, Satan cannot harm you. In Christ you will find protection for your soul.
Friday, February 26, 2016
WORK WITH ENTHUSIASM
Eph. 6:7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
I worked for many years, mostly in factories. It is safe to say that very few people that I worked with worked with enthusiasm. Most people worked out of necessity and did not have a good attitude about their work. They did their jobs and eagerly went home. Their hearts were not at their work and often it showed in how much they worked, the quality of their work, and their attitude while working.
For the believer, it should not be that way. We should be setting an example for the world when it comes to what we do, how we do it, why we do it, and our attitude while we do it. I understand that very few people see their work as exciting and a good part of their day, but we should see things differently than the world. We should be thankful for the jobs we have and the abilities we have to do them. We should thank the Lord that we have health to work. We should be thankful that we live in a place where we can work for ourselves and our families instead of forced labor for others. We should consider our work to be opportunities to share Christ with non-believers. We should strive to show the world what a difference Christ makes in us through how we work and our attitudes about it.
As believers, we need to do all we do for the Lord and not for man. When we are driven by trying to please people we will always fall short. When we strive to please the Lord, it affects all we do. We need to see Him as worthy of our best efforts. We owe Him everything and our lives need to reflect it.
I worked for many years, mostly in factories. It is safe to say that very few people that I worked with worked with enthusiasm. Most people worked out of necessity and did not have a good attitude about their work. They did their jobs and eagerly went home. Their hearts were not at their work and often it showed in how much they worked, the quality of their work, and their attitude while working.
For the believer, it should not be that way. We should be setting an example for the world when it comes to what we do, how we do it, why we do it, and our attitude while we do it. I understand that very few people see their work as exciting and a good part of their day, but we should see things differently than the world. We should be thankful for the jobs we have and the abilities we have to do them. We should thank the Lord that we have health to work. We should be thankful that we live in a place where we can work for ourselves and our families instead of forced labor for others. We should consider our work to be opportunities to share Christ with non-believers. We should strive to show the world what a difference Christ makes in us through how we work and our attitudes about it.
As believers, we need to do all we do for the Lord and not for man. When we are driven by trying to please people we will always fall short. When we strive to please the Lord, it affects all we do. We need to see Him as worthy of our best efforts. We owe Him everything and our lives need to reflect it.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
HOW WE LIVE MATTERS
Eph. 5:15-17 So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do.
Only a fool would live a life contrary to a life he knows to be true from God. If we believe that God has spoken to us in His Word and that it is unchangeable truth, it makes absolutely no sense at all to ignore it and do what we want to do in life. Wisdom would tell us to be careful how we live in light of what God tells us. It is a very dangerous thing to jeopardize our souls by ignoring God’s clear instructions on how to live.
We need to make the most of every opportunity we have to learn how to live out our faith through His Word. We need to always seek to discover more about ourselves so we can align ourselves up with God’s standards. We need to see ourselves in need of more and more knowledge from Him.
We need to make the most of every opportunity we have to do good. We live in very troublesome times. Evil is everywhere and it's getting more and more of a stronghold in the public arena. It is imperative for the sake of souls that we don’t mess around and pass up opportunities we are given to bring Christ into the mix by doing good.
We need to give careful thought to what the Lord wants us to do. It is so easy to mess up our opportunities by acting in ways contrary to the Lord’s desires for us. He knows best what we can and should be doing. We should always strive to understand our role in life. The only way we will gain an understanding is for us to spend time in fellowship with the Lord in prayer and in His Word.
If we seek out the Lord, He will open the right doors for us. He wants us to best utilize our lives. He made us to fulfill a particular role in life. Wise is he who finds out what his role is and does it. There is no greater peace and joy in life than to be doing the good God has given us to do.
Only a fool would live a life contrary to a life he knows to be true from God. If we believe that God has spoken to us in His Word and that it is unchangeable truth, it makes absolutely no sense at all to ignore it and do what we want to do in life. Wisdom would tell us to be careful how we live in light of what God tells us. It is a very dangerous thing to jeopardize our souls by ignoring God’s clear instructions on how to live.
We need to make the most of every opportunity we have to learn how to live out our faith through His Word. We need to always seek to discover more about ourselves so we can align ourselves up with God’s standards. We need to see ourselves in need of more and more knowledge from Him.
We need to make the most of every opportunity we have to do good. We live in very troublesome times. Evil is everywhere and it's getting more and more of a stronghold in the public arena. It is imperative for the sake of souls that we don’t mess around and pass up opportunities we are given to bring Christ into the mix by doing good.
We need to give careful thought to what the Lord wants us to do. It is so easy to mess up our opportunities by acting in ways contrary to the Lord’s desires for us. He knows best what we can and should be doing. We should always strive to understand our role in life. The only way we will gain an understanding is for us to spend time in fellowship with the Lord in prayer and in His Word.
If we seek out the Lord, He will open the right doors for us. He wants us to best utilize our lives. He made us to fulfill a particular role in life. Wise is he who finds out what his role is and does it. There is no greater peace and joy in life than to be doing the good God has given us to do.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
WHAT PLEASES GOD?
Eph. 5:10-11 Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them.
How hard are you trying to find out what is pleasing to the Lord? How much thought do you give to your living as a child of God? If you are trying to please Him, where are you looking for answers? Are you waiting on the Lord for your answers or are you listening to other voices?
God makes it very clear in His Word what pleases Him. He does not lead us into confusion. We are to live holy lives before Him. We are to let Him expose our sinful thoughts and actions and do away with them. We are to direct our attention to Him. Jesus is to be the focus of our thoughts and living. We are to have no part in the worthless deeds of the flesh; they are sinful in origin and an abomination to God. When we encounter sin, we are to rebuke and expose it, not cuddle up to it.
It is a very difficult battle to fight. No matter how strong we become in faith, we will never outgrow our need to stay focused on Christ. Satan knows our weaknesses and he will expose and exploit them until we die. Don't slack off. Always try to find out what pleases the Lord and then do it. Shun evil. No matter how much pressure you may feel, don't take part in that which is sinful. You know what is sinful and what isn't. God doesn't leave you in the dark. Develop a desire to always please the Lord and you will never be in doubt. Let the Spirit expose and rebuke sin wherever He finds it so you won't fall into its snare.
How hard are you trying to find out what is pleasing to the Lord? How much thought do you give to your living as a child of God? If you are trying to please Him, where are you looking for answers? Are you waiting on the Lord for your answers or are you listening to other voices?
God makes it very clear in His Word what pleases Him. He does not lead us into confusion. We are to live holy lives before Him. We are to let Him expose our sinful thoughts and actions and do away with them. We are to direct our attention to Him. Jesus is to be the focus of our thoughts and living. We are to have no part in the worthless deeds of the flesh; they are sinful in origin and an abomination to God. When we encounter sin, we are to rebuke and expose it, not cuddle up to it.
It is a very difficult battle to fight. No matter how strong we become in faith, we will never outgrow our need to stay focused on Christ. Satan knows our weaknesses and he will expose and exploit them until we die. Don't slack off. Always try to find out what pleases the Lord and then do it. Shun evil. No matter how much pressure you may feel, don't take part in that which is sinful. You know what is sinful and what isn't. God doesn't leave you in the dark. Develop a desire to always please the Lord and you will never be in doubt. Let the Spirit expose and rebuke sin wherever He finds it so you won't fall into its snare.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
LET JESUS CHANGE YOU
Eph. 5:8-9 ...For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
Your hearts were once full of darkness, you just couldn't help yourself. Once you lived in sin, a lot. You did it naturally. It was the desire of your heart. You weren't ashamed of what you did. In fact, you considered those who didn't sin weird. You lived and enjoyed the momentary pleasures sin brought to you. Your heart was full of darkness. There simply wasn't any room for God's light to shine in.
But, Jesus came knocking on your heart's door and you let Him in. Your eyes were opened and you came to realize that you could no longer live in the life of sin. Jesus showed you the consequences of sin and you no longer wanted it. Your desires changed from wanting to sin to not wanting to. The more you let Jesus shine His light on your soul, the more you wanted to please Him. Your heart became full of light instead of darkness and there simply was not any more room for sin.
And, this is the way it should be. When we walk in the light of God's written and living Word, the more our behavior changes. It becomes obvious to all by the way we live and talk that we are indeed children of God. God in us produces only that which is good, right, and true.
If you are struggling with sin in your life, the problem is not the Lord's inadequacy to help you or change you. He is more than able to do that which He has promised! The problem is your willingness to let Him change you. In some way you are holding back from the Lord control over your sinful desires. We are all guilty of doing it, but that is no excuse for sinning. We must let the Lord access to every room of our hearts so that His light can dispel the darkness.
We must strive to resist sinning by letting the Lord be Lord of all of our lives. He cannot be your Lord until he is Lord of all your heart. Will you let Him by Lord?
Your hearts were once full of darkness, you just couldn't help yourself. Once you lived in sin, a lot. You did it naturally. It was the desire of your heart. You weren't ashamed of what you did. In fact, you considered those who didn't sin weird. You lived and enjoyed the momentary pleasures sin brought to you. Your heart was full of darkness. There simply wasn't any room for God's light to shine in.
But, Jesus came knocking on your heart's door and you let Him in. Your eyes were opened and you came to realize that you could no longer live in the life of sin. Jesus showed you the consequences of sin and you no longer wanted it. Your desires changed from wanting to sin to not wanting to. The more you let Jesus shine His light on your soul, the more you wanted to please Him. Your heart became full of light instead of darkness and there simply was not any more room for sin.
And, this is the way it should be. When we walk in the light of God's written and living Word, the more our behavior changes. It becomes obvious to all by the way we live and talk that we are indeed children of God. God in us produces only that which is good, right, and true.
If you are struggling with sin in your life, the problem is not the Lord's inadequacy to help you or change you. He is more than able to do that which He has promised! The problem is your willingness to let Him change you. In some way you are holding back from the Lord control over your sinful desires. We are all guilty of doing it, but that is no excuse for sinning. We must let the Lord access to every room of our hearts so that His light can dispel the darkness.
We must strive to resist sinning by letting the Lord be Lord of all of our lives. He cannot be your Lord until he is Lord of all your heart. Will you let Him by Lord?
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