Category: Podcasts (Page 40 of 80)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Eph 6:17:
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” KJV

So far Paul the apostle has been mostly telling us about using the armor of God to protect ourselves from attacks by our enemy, the devil. Now we begin to move from the defensive aspects of warfare to the offensive. As Christians we live in a world that is dominated by forces that are hostile to our faith. It can be easy to forget that Jesus sent His apostles out into that very same world with an agressive message to proclaim and teach to all nations.

Resistance to the Good News of Jesus has its source in a powerful adversary who hates all of humanity as much as God loves it. But we have even more power than him through Christ! (1 John 4:4)

2 Corinthians 10:4:
“For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds…” AMP

These strongholds are thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, that hold their captives in chains of fear, deception, hatred, jealousy, witchcraft, and unholy desires that destroy themselves and others.

2 Corinthians 10:5:
“[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed one),” AMP

The apostles of Christ placed a high value and even took great pride in their belonging to Christ. Captivity to Him is indeed true freedom! They saw the first order of business as winning the battle over their own thoughts before reaching out to others. As Jesus taught, we must remove the plank from our own eye before trying to remove the speck from our brother’s eye.

A most powerful example of using the Sword of the Spirit is found in the life of Jesus. After His baptism by John in the Jordan River, the Spirit of God descended on Him as a dove, and a Voice from heaven came saying, “You are my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.” Before that time, we have no record in the Gospels of Him doing any great works. Now He is anointed to go forth with the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

But before He faced the evils in the world around Him, He had a personal battle to win. It was common for people back then to enter into a fast, that is deny themselves food, when looking for spiritual guidance and strength. Jesus committed Himself to 40 days of isolation, during which His position as The Son of God was to be challenged.

By tempting His physical body and humanity, the devil tried to prove that Jesus was not in fact the Son of God. In each case Jesus forcefully wielded the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. While the devil knew the Scriptures, and attenpted to trick Jesus by twisting their meaning, Jesus held forth the Word of God in its purity when He told him, “It is written.” It is not enough to know the Scriptures. One must know the Scriptures AND the One Who is speaking through them!

Paul writes in another place:

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)KJV

Peter put it this way:

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,   21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21) NKJV

Satan had his private interpretation of the Scripture, but Jesus had the power of the Holy Spirit within and upon Him! The Spirit and the Word always agree! The scriptures as they had them back then, and as we have them today were given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. If I am wrong about this, then Jesus, and the apostles, and every body of believers from ancient times to this day were also wrong! But don’t take my word for it, repent and be baptised in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit! (Acts 2:38) THEN you will know for yourself what I am talking about!

When you find other Spirit-filled believers who can teach you how to use the Sword of the Spirit, you can also prove for yourself how victorious a person can live because of Jesus!

This cannot be overemphasized in today’s culture. When any believer takes the time to prayerfully read the Bible, and listen to godly teachers of the Bible, God the Holy Spirit will participate in this. He will speak to you through the Scriptures! And if you hear words in your head or have thoughts come to your mind that might be God, you can come to know by experience how to discern them. God can and does speak to His people today in dreams and various signs, but He has given us the Scriptures to test all things.

Jesus came out of the wilderness in full power of the Spirit, having proven His sonship by resisting every temptation. Likewise, God wants to empower us beyond personal defense, so we can follow Jesus has He reaches out to release others from captivity.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

The Armor of God Part 5: The Shield of Faith
Ephesians 6:16:

“.. in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” NASU

The subject of faith is certainly important when it comes to God, Jesus and all things related to Christianity.  Jesus had much to say about faith, and of course Paul, Peter, John, James and the writer to the Hebrews all emphasized its importance. Add to that all of the literature and teachings on the subject over the past two millennia, and we can see how there is no scarcity of thoughts and words concerning faith in the world.

Still the subject seems a bit vague and unclear. Sometimes people confuse faith with positive thinking or speaking. There is little doubt that thinking and speaking positively can be helpful and even necessary. Even people who do not believe in Christ or God think of having faith as being optimistic in outlook. It is my view that believers in Christ have all the more reason to look forward to the future.  However, we do not believe “in faith.” We have faith in One Who is faithful!

In both the Old and New Testaments, faith is about a relationship. People trusted in God, believed in Him because they knew enough about Him, and were persuaded by Him to trust in Him. Because they trusted in Him they listened to Him and obeyed His Voice. Their obedience would eventually produce the “evidence of things not seen”  spoken of in Hebrews 11:1. In many cases the actions inspired by their convictions brought fantastic results! There was a time in my life when I desired faith in order that I could get results like those found in the Bible. In time I learned that my relationship with Him was my greatest desire. My faith is IN HIM — not in the working of miracles!

Like many others, I observed the results my biblical heroes were getting, and looked for methods they might have used to get those results.  The closer I read, the more I realized many were like Daniel’s three friends who did not know or even care if they came out of the furnace of fire! All that mattered was their relationship with the One in Whom they believed!

This is the faith that withstands those flaming arrows, the frightening circumstances, the betrayals, the disappointments, the false accusations, the rejections, the suggestions that God has let you down! Our faith is in a Person! He has made Himself known unto us in many ways both great and small! Therefore we can take even the smallest proofs of His presence and let them grow like the tiny mustard seed!

I like to use the analogy of my marriage. Many years ago I was married to an unfaithful person. There was no peace in my heart because I could not trust her to stay with me and care for our son. Years later the Lord brought another into my life who had no desire to follow after other men. We do not always agree, but I trust she would not go with another and she knows my heart belongs to only her. If someone would spread a rumor that they saw her out with another man, I would not believe it for a second. I KNOW her. I know that she is not that kind of person. I trust her because she is faithful to me.

As our relationship with God grows, we come to trust Him more. Our faith in Him grows. He does not improve, but our knowledge in Him does. It is as simple as that. As we spend time with Him in prayer, meditation, worship, His Word, and in fellowship with others who know Him, we get to know Him more.  There are worthwhile practices and patterns of life in the Christian world, but it is sometimes easy to forget that these practices are only a means to an end. The purpose is always to know Christ and learn of Him. To develop our relationship first with Him and then with one another so we can all be united in Him for His glory.

The beauty of all this is that God Himself is more than eager for us to know Him. He has provided everything we need for our faith to become strong in Him. So when we are attacked by thoughts and words that are determined to defeat us, we can hold up our shield of Faith in the most loving and all-powerful One who is always on our side!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Armor of God, part 4, The Gospel of Peace

After instructing the believers at Ephesis to stand supported with the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness, Paul addresses another part of armor in this spiritual war. In warfare, it is critical that the soldier can move freely and quickly when ever necessary. His feet must be protected from extreme heat or cold, and diseases which can develop when trudging through mud and brush.

In the Scriptures we are called to “walk in the light,” to “walk in the truth,” to “walk in the Spirit,” and to not walk in darkness, lies, or the flesh. Life is portrayed as a journey with a wonderful destination — if we choose the right path.

I have always loved and appreciated this line in Proverbs 4:18:

“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” NASB

More Good News!

Isn’t it interesting that an important requirement for winning in this spiritual battle is the possession of peace? Paul reveals how our feet, by which we are transported on our way are to be prepared.

Ephesians 6:14-15: “Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” NASB

When I was much younger, I heard that Jewish people used the same word for both hello and goodbye. At the time, that seemed strange. I later learned that the Hebrew word, “shalom” actually means “peace.” It is a way of blessing or well-wishing when greeting, or saying fairwell. The full phrase is “Shalom aleichem,” meaning “peace be upon you.” The Hebrew concept of peace often encompasses more than simply tranquility. Along with peace between individuals and countries, it can also mean wholeness, completeness, prosperity, and an overall state of safety and well-being.

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ heralded a new form of government on the earth known as the Kingdom of God. Many who followed Him expected this government to come with violence against the existing Roman authorities. Instead, the Kingdom of God as revealed in Christ suffered the violence of mighty Rome! His disciples were shocked at His death and even more surprised at His resurrection, which proved what Jesus had taught all along. The Kingdom of God, or the rulership of God must first begin with His Gracious work within us!

The power of His resurrection then extended to everyone who repented of their sins and unbelief and trusted in Him to deliver them. They too were filled with the same Spirit that raised Him from the grave! This was the Kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy! This peace is first between the individual and God, but it does not stop there. The result of Christ’s death and resurrection was the outpouring of His mercy, love and grace upon an entire community who had gathered from many nations to worship God. That became the Church Jesus said would withstand the very gates of hell! (Acts 2:5, 38-47).

The true peace that came through the Good News of the Kingdom of God was real. It brought reconciliation, wholeness, completeness, prosperity and an overall state of well-being to those who received Him. Without this peace we have no hope of winning the war against the schemes of the devil. We not only stand in the peace of God, but we move forward in the battle against hatred, deception, depression, oppression and every form of evil! Please think about this! Resist the temptation of the enemy to hate other people! Hate only the evil that controls them, and the thing that robs you of your personal peace.

Yes, there is a battle raging, but we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ and His work on our behalf!