Dear Readers around the world! God’s Peace be with you!
Glorify God. That is our topic today, and I pray that it would be your focus, topic, and your hearts desire not only today, but every day. To God Be the Glory!
Let our prayer be as such;
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6
Even the very death on the cross of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, gloried God!
This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. John 21:19
The earth and the heavens declare His handiwork! The Old Testament is full of this word Glory, all of which is the Lord’s!
Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. 2Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 3The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. Psalm 29:1-3
In the New Testament, often when Jesus healed someone, He said that it is for the reason that it would glorify God. John 11:4
When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Let us learn from our Master!
Even is our prayers, let us gaze upon our Father. Look to His Glory, His strength, Glorify Him, understand that He can provide, that He is in charge of our lives, and is in control of the whole earth.
Let us try to remember not to approach God only with our needs, our desires, our problems and situations, but let us remember that we can approach Him in Praise of His Glory! His Power, His Majesty, and His Might! Our God is all powerful, He has promised and will provide! Let us trust in Him!
When we share about Jesus with our congregations, our towns, villages, family, co-workers, schoolmates, or anyone else, let is be all about Him! Romans 15:9
And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
1 Cor. 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
What is that price? Jesus Christ! Our Redemption cost Jesus Christ His life. We repeat! 1 Cor. 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Yet, Salvation for us is free! Isaiah 55:1
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Are there any thirsty today? Come just as you are. No money, no price is required. Repent and Believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Jesus is in the saving mood still today! I trust that you believe this! If so, share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world for the Glory of God!
All Glory and Honor be to God today and always!
Hallelujah, Amen!
JR
"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Behold Your God
Dear Readers around the world!
The text of our article this week will be Isaiah. Ch. 40:1-11.
The book of Isaiah is such a wonderful book. Many of my favorite verses are recorded in this book. I desire to list a few of these here:
1: 18 Come let us reason saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool,………
Ch. 6 Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His Glory
Ch. 12 Read all 6 verses and notice the Wells of Salvation
Ch. 53 Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? V5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, each one to our own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all!
Ch. 55 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price
Ch. 61 The Sprit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord hath appointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek, he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound, To proclaim the acceptable year of our Lord…….
Ch. 66: Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.
Before we go into the 40th chapter I would like to point out some interesting facts about this chapter and the book of Isaiah.
The Book of Isaiah has 66 chapters just as does the entire bible has 66 books. Also, there are 39 chapters before chapter 40, just like the Old Testament. Those first 39 chapters are written in prophecy style similar to the OT in general.
Then starting with chapter 40, Isaiah becomes the book of comfort, like the New Testament. Starting with chapter 40 there are 27 books, just like the New Testament Our God is surely a God of order!
Now when we look into chapter 40 Please READ V 1-11 and preferably the entire chapter, in Jesus name!
We will not look at this portion in an historical perspective, but rather how these verses apply to the hearts of men today.
1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Our God is a God that wants to comfort us when we need comforting. When we are in times of mourning, times of hardship, times of financial distress, times of hunger, or in some other season, God wants to comfort us! Notice the words my people, and your God. Such a God we have that He personally wants to care for us! He is our Father.
2Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. Jerusalem was the center of the church and God’s people in those days. Where is the center of Christianity today? It is the church, which is in the hearts of his people that are believing by faith in the complete redemptive work of the Lord Jesus. God wants to speak to our hearts; He wants to speak to our families, communities, and villages through His Word and through His believers.
What is this most comforting message that we should CRY out? The message is that ones sins are forgiven, sins are pardoned; forgiveness is received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins! Not only is our sin forgiven, it is forgotten! Not only is our guilt removed, the power of sin over can be removed! Sin is not only forgiven, it is forgotten and removed. There is not a more comforting message that that our sins are forgiven by and through the Name and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ!
3The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. You remember John the Baptist in each of the four gospels! He was a messenger, a crier to point the way to Jesus. We too can be messengers! We can point to Jesus! Proclaim Him loudly to all! Let them know that there is a better way, which is life in Christ Jesus. He is the Way the Truth and the Life!
4Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: God is the God of the mountains, which can be those good times in our life, and He is the God of the valleys, which are those bad times in our life. He is in control in all situations, and He can lift up and bring us down, (humble us) if that is what is needed.
5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
6The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Our God is so mighty and powerful. He created all things. He is over all and above all. We are but grass, we pass away quickly. The Word of God shall stand forever! His Word is the Eternal Truth. His Word is true, yesterday, today, and forever.
9O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Behold your God! He is all powerful, and He is able and willing to save! Lift up your voice and proclaim him! Cry out, be a witness!
10Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
As mighty and strong as our Lord is, He is also so tender and loving. Jesus paid it all, He is the Great Shepherd. He will reach down, pick us up, and carry us when we need to be carried! Do you hear His voice? Follow the Good Shepherd. At the end of life He will carry all who believe in Him by faith all the way to our final resting place in Heaven above.
Please read verse 12, and the rest of the chapter. It shows God’s mighty power so clearly.
Dear Readers! Behold your God, and wait on HIM!
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
May God Bless your week! John
The text of our article this week will be Isaiah. Ch. 40:1-11.
The book of Isaiah is such a wonderful book. Many of my favorite verses are recorded in this book. I desire to list a few of these here:
1: 18 Come let us reason saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool,………
Ch. 6 Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His Glory
Ch. 12 Read all 6 verses and notice the Wells of Salvation
Ch. 53 Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? V5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, each one to our own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all!
Ch. 55 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price
Ch. 61 The Sprit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord hath appointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek, he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound, To proclaim the acceptable year of our Lord…….
Ch. 66: Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.
Before we go into the 40th chapter I would like to point out some interesting facts about this chapter and the book of Isaiah.
The Book of Isaiah has 66 chapters just as does the entire bible has 66 books. Also, there are 39 chapters before chapter 40, just like the Old Testament. Those first 39 chapters are written in prophecy style similar to the OT in general.
Then starting with chapter 40, Isaiah becomes the book of comfort, like the New Testament. Starting with chapter 40 there are 27 books, just like the New Testament Our God is surely a God of order!
Now when we look into chapter 40 Please READ V 1-11 and preferably the entire chapter, in Jesus name!
We will not look at this portion in an historical perspective, but rather how these verses apply to the hearts of men today.
1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Our God is a God that wants to comfort us when we need comforting. When we are in times of mourning, times of hardship, times of financial distress, times of hunger, or in some other season, God wants to comfort us! Notice the words my people, and your God. Such a God we have that He personally wants to care for us! He is our Father.
2Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins. Jerusalem was the center of the church and God’s people in those days. Where is the center of Christianity today? It is the church, which is in the hearts of his people that are believing by faith in the complete redemptive work of the Lord Jesus. God wants to speak to our hearts; He wants to speak to our families, communities, and villages through His Word and through His believers.
What is this most comforting message that we should CRY out? The message is that ones sins are forgiven, sins are pardoned; forgiveness is received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins! Not only is our sin forgiven, it is forgotten! Not only is our guilt removed, the power of sin over can be removed! Sin is not only forgiven, it is forgotten and removed. There is not a more comforting message that that our sins are forgiven by and through the Name and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ!
3The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. You remember John the Baptist in each of the four gospels! He was a messenger, a crier to point the way to Jesus. We too can be messengers! We can point to Jesus! Proclaim Him loudly to all! Let them know that there is a better way, which is life in Christ Jesus. He is the Way the Truth and the Life!
4Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: God is the God of the mountains, which can be those good times in our life, and He is the God of the valleys, which are those bad times in our life. He is in control in all situations, and He can lift up and bring us down, (humble us) if that is what is needed.
5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
6The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Our God is so mighty and powerful. He created all things. He is over all and above all. We are but grass, we pass away quickly. The Word of God shall stand forever! His Word is the Eternal Truth. His Word is true, yesterday, today, and forever.
9O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Behold your God! He is all powerful, and He is able and willing to save! Lift up your voice and proclaim him! Cry out, be a witness!
10Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
As mighty and strong as our Lord is, He is also so tender and loving. Jesus paid it all, He is the Great Shepherd. He will reach down, pick us up, and carry us when we need to be carried! Do you hear His voice? Follow the Good Shepherd. At the end of life He will carry all who believe in Him by faith all the way to our final resting place in Heaven above.
Please read verse 12, and the rest of the chapter. It shows God’s mighty power so clearly.
Dear Readers! Behold your God, and wait on HIM!
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
May God Bless your week! John
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
God is in Control
Dear Readers around the world! This morning my heart is heavy for the people of Haiti whom are suffering badly due to the massive earthquake. I have been in contact with people in the hardest hit city in the last year or two, so my prayers are for them, their families, and all the other suffering people. May God grant that country help from others, and a peace and strength to go through the very difficult days ahead.
Since I had these thoughts, when I found this article written by one of our Pastors, Joel Kandoll from the state of Washington, I thought it was fitting for today!
May God Bless your week. John
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven
and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that
keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel
shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the
Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite
thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve
thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall
preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth,
and even for evermore. Psalm 121:1-8
The Psalmist here describes the preserving hand of the
Lord as we travel through this life. Often as we experience
trials and afflictions we need to be comforted; we need to be
once again assured with the many promises found in His Holy
Word. Our natural tendency may be to struggle alone against
those things which may come our way, but how good it is if we
recognize that we have a great true Friend in the Lord Jesus
Christ! And that as Jesus lives in our hearts by faith we also
may be true friends to one another by assuring one another of
the Lord’s deliverance unto salvation.
Here in this psalm we are taught to look unto the Lord, the Creator,
the One who has made all things, even as it is recorded in Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
God has created all things by the power of His Word, and He continues to hold all things in His hand. We need not fear that He has lost control, that He is no longer able to rule all things; and we need not fear that He is not able to help us or sustain us. God is an eternal being and, as stated in this psalm, He does not slumber or sleep; He does not become tired or weary as we do in our natural bodies.
As age advances upon us, we find that the activities that were so easy when we were younger now seem to take so much effort, and some activities we find we are even unable to do anymore. This is not so with the Lord our God; He is unchanging, the same yesterday, today and forever.
Let us look unto the Lord always for the preservation of our souls, as He shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Pastor Joel Kandoll
Castle Rock, Washington
Since I had these thoughts, when I found this article written by one of our Pastors, Joel Kandoll from the state of Washington, I thought it was fitting for today!
May God Bless your week. John
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven
and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that
keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel
shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the
Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite
thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve
thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall
preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth,
and even for evermore. Psalm 121:1-8
The Psalmist here describes the preserving hand of the
Lord as we travel through this life. Often as we experience
trials and afflictions we need to be comforted; we need to be
once again assured with the many promises found in His Holy
Word. Our natural tendency may be to struggle alone against
those things which may come our way, but how good it is if we
recognize that we have a great true Friend in the Lord Jesus
Christ! And that as Jesus lives in our hearts by faith we also
may be true friends to one another by assuring one another of
the Lord’s deliverance unto salvation.
Here in this psalm we are taught to look unto the Lord, the Creator,
the One who has made all things, even as it is recorded in Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
God has created all things by the power of His Word, and He continues to hold all things in His hand. We need not fear that He has lost control, that He is no longer able to rule all things; and we need not fear that He is not able to help us or sustain us. God is an eternal being and, as stated in this psalm, He does not slumber or sleep; He does not become tired or weary as we do in our natural bodies.
As age advances upon us, we find that the activities that were so easy when we were younger now seem to take so much effort, and some activities we find we are even unable to do anymore. This is not so with the Lord our God; He is unchanging, the same yesterday, today and forever.
Let us look unto the Lord always for the preservation of our souls, as He shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Pastor Joel Kandoll
Castle Rock, Washington
Monday, January 4, 2010
Armour of God
Dear Readers around the world! May God Bless you and yours with a wonderful and blessed New Year in the Lord! This week our article is written by Pastor Orval Wirkkala. Please enjoy! John
Dear Brothers, here are some thoughts for us to consider as we look to the future.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesian 6:10-11
As we enter a new year in the Lord, we face it in confidence and hope because the Lord is strong and powerful. As we go into the new year, our expectations are built upon the promises of the Lord for the future, rather than upon that which has happened in the past. Yes, our circumstances may remain the same as we begin this new year, but as we have seen in the lives of people throughout history, circumstances are always changing. Sometimes for the worse, but mostly for the better. The experiences of Christmas equip us for the year ahead, for we are called to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might!!
As we celebrated Christmas this year, did we not receive much encouragement from the mutual sending and receiving of Christmas greetings through cards and gifts? Yes, we did. These times of fellowship one with another are helpful for us in that they point toward the reason for our hope and away from the cause of our pessimism toward the future. There are many modern forms of communication today which the people living in the time of the early church did not have for their use. But even if they did not have all of that which we have, they had that which our Father has ordained for the purpose of communicating with us: Language..They communicated in the same way that people have for all of time: With words. And they wrote and received letters, in whatever form they had at that time.
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Christians at Ephesus in the early church years. In his conclusion to the letter, he counseled them with these words: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.Ephesians 6:10 After writing these words, he went on to say that they should "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." And why we must put it on: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:11-12)
He then goes on to list the 7 parts of the armor which he had called for them to put on, emphasizing that they are to put on the "whole" armor. Here are the seven which he listed:
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, (1) having your loins girt about with truth, (2) and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 (3) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, (4) taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 (5) And take the helmet of salvation, (6) and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 (7) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
As we consider this letter which was written to the Ephesians (and to us)by Paul while he was in prison, we can appreciate his giving heart which we see reflected from the words he wrote while imprisoned:
"Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. "Ephesians 3:13
The driving force of his life was that those to whom he had been called to serve would be pointed to the source of Hope and Joy, Jesus Christ. He outlines this in this letter to the Ephesians in a systematic manner, first establishing their position in Jesus Christ through faith, pointing out to them of how the body of Jesus Christ (the church) works together in common love and purpose. Then in the conclusion, calls them to stand in that which God has done for them, is for them in Christ and is doing through them as the body of Jesus Christ. As reflected in the verse above, he did not consider his life important, for he spoke to the elders of the Ephesian church in the book of Acts in this manner as he said farewell to them as he journeyed toward an unknown future in Jerusalem: "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24
May we read and meditate on these verses which have been given for our teaching and edification. May the Spirit of Christ dwell richly in us today and may it be reflected by our understanding of who we are within the body of Jesus Christ. Yes, the armor must be put on individually, but it is through the corporate body that we gain and have more strength as an army as opposed to acting on an individual basis. May this letter be read and reread by us so that we will understand clearly as to what it means to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Let us read, meditate upon and pray through Paul's prayers for us in 1:15-23 and 3:14-21 and his call to prayer in 6:18-24. His prayers focus on our increased awareness of the power of Christ which we possess being in Him and that this power is brought forth among us and through us through the serving of one another within His body.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
Love,
Orval Wirkkala
Dear Brothers, here are some thoughts for us to consider as we look to the future.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesian 6:10-11
As we enter a new year in the Lord, we face it in confidence and hope because the Lord is strong and powerful. As we go into the new year, our expectations are built upon the promises of the Lord for the future, rather than upon that which has happened in the past. Yes, our circumstances may remain the same as we begin this new year, but as we have seen in the lives of people throughout history, circumstances are always changing. Sometimes for the worse, but mostly for the better. The experiences of Christmas equip us for the year ahead, for we are called to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might!!
As we celebrated Christmas this year, did we not receive much encouragement from the mutual sending and receiving of Christmas greetings through cards and gifts? Yes, we did. These times of fellowship one with another are helpful for us in that they point toward the reason for our hope and away from the cause of our pessimism toward the future. There are many modern forms of communication today which the people living in the time of the early church did not have for their use. But even if they did not have all of that which we have, they had that which our Father has ordained for the purpose of communicating with us: Language..They communicated in the same way that people have for all of time: With words. And they wrote and received letters, in whatever form they had at that time.
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Christians at Ephesus in the early church years. In his conclusion to the letter, he counseled them with these words: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.Ephesians 6:10 After writing these words, he went on to say that they should "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." And why we must put it on: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:11-12)
He then goes on to list the 7 parts of the armor which he had called for them to put on, emphasizing that they are to put on the "whole" armor. Here are the seven which he listed:
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, (1) having your loins girt about with truth, (2) and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 (3) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, (4) taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 (5) And take the helmet of salvation, (6) and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 (7) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
As we consider this letter which was written to the Ephesians (and to us)by Paul while he was in prison, we can appreciate his giving heart which we see reflected from the words he wrote while imprisoned:
"Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. "Ephesians 3:13
The driving force of his life was that those to whom he had been called to serve would be pointed to the source of Hope and Joy, Jesus Christ. He outlines this in this letter to the Ephesians in a systematic manner, first establishing their position in Jesus Christ through faith, pointing out to them of how the body of Jesus Christ (the church) works together in common love and purpose. Then in the conclusion, calls them to stand in that which God has done for them, is for them in Christ and is doing through them as the body of Jesus Christ. As reflected in the verse above, he did not consider his life important, for he spoke to the elders of the Ephesian church in the book of Acts in this manner as he said farewell to them as he journeyed toward an unknown future in Jerusalem: "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24
May we read and meditate on these verses which have been given for our teaching and edification. May the Spirit of Christ dwell richly in us today and may it be reflected by our understanding of who we are within the body of Jesus Christ. Yes, the armor must be put on individually, but it is through the corporate body that we gain and have more strength as an army as opposed to acting on an individual basis. May this letter be read and reread by us so that we will understand clearly as to what it means to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Let us read, meditate upon and pray through Paul's prayers for us in 1:15-23 and 3:14-21 and his call to prayer in 6:18-24. His prayers focus on our increased awareness of the power of Christ which we possess being in Him and that this power is brought forth among us and through us through the serving of one another within His body.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
Love,
Orval Wirkkala
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