Spiritual War, 7of20

~ Spiritual War: Strategies ~

Strategy #1 (armor up)  ~  “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness [His righteousness], and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace [offering to others the peace you have]; above all, taking the shield of faith [trust in God alone] with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation [protect your thinking], and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God [How well do you know the Word of God?]” (Ephesians 6:14-17).  Armor is useless unless you put it on, so armor up for the war you are in. 

Strategy #2 (pray in the Spirit)  ~  “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18a).  We are to pray always—but always in the Spirit.  Prayer is the battle cry of the Christian. 

Strategy #3 (understand your orders)  ~  “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

Strategy #4 (be controlled by the Spirit of God)  ~  “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled [literally controlled by] with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).

Strategy #5 (be grateful)  ~  “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

Strategy #6 (reverence God)  ~  Submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:21).

Strategy #7 (fellowship)  ~  “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, … submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:19, 21).

The Bottom Line Strategy (behave intelligently)  ~  “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Christian Action, 39of39

~ Overcome The Evil All Around ~

Series Note  ~  In just the single chapter of Romans 12 the Apostle Paul gave believers a list of 39 things which are part of the Christian life which pleases God.  This chapter is crying out saying, “If you name Jesus Christ as your Savior then please act like a Christian!”  It is Paul’s “To Do List” for us.  The key principle is that while you and I cannot change God’s character (who He really is) we have the clear potential to damage His reputation (what others think He is). 

Scripture to Meditate On  ~  “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

Comment  ~  The very first To Do in Romans 12 was to commit all to God.  The middle To Do was the critical foundation of continual earnest prayer—which is vital if we are to accomplish any of our To Dos.  Now we come to the final To Do which will be the result if we have paid sincere effort—in dependence upon the Word of God and the Spirit of God—to the list of To Dos in Romans 12. 

Related Passages  ~  “Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).  “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome.  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:2-5).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Jesus Was…, 13

~ Jesus Christ Was Living In Poverty While On Earth ~

Passages  ~  “And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.  Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, ‘Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.’  And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head’” (Matthew 8:18-20).

“Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, ‘Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.’  And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head’” (Luke 9:57-58). 

Significance  ~  Although the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Jesus Christ entered our world not only as a human being but also as one without riches or privilege.  He can identify with and fully understand our needs.

the key question:  “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).  This is the most important question you will ever answer.  If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .