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Christian armour

More Than Conquerors Through the Spirit’s Sword

by Esther Griggs October 16, 2020

When you grasp the Sword of the Spirit, you have life and power in your hands. The Word of God is spirit and eternal life. God’s Word at the beginning, “Let there be light,” brought forth creation. The words of Jesus, “It is finished,” secured our salvation. Paul tells us the word of God is the sword of the Spirit. When we have the word of God implanted within us, allowing the Spirit to use it, we will be more than conquerors through the Spirit’s sword.

The Spirit’s Sword Implanted Within Us

“Let the word of God dwell in you richly,” Paul told the Philippians. Then from James we read, “Receive the implanted word of God with meekness, for it is able to save your souls.” The Psalmist also tells us he hid God’s word in his heart so he wouldn’t sin against God. He said it was a lamp for his feet. In the Proverbs we read there is life and health in the words of God. From all these words, we learn that not only do we hear the word, but we allow it to work within us. We become doers of it. Consider how Jesus was the Word of God. As a child when reunited with his anxious parents he asked, “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” Later, as a man He said, “I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day…” He not only heard the word but He also did the word. We must hear and receive the word, letting it take root and grow so it can crowd out the lies of the enemy.

Allowing The Spirit to Use It

The Word of God has a mission. It does not return to God empty. The Word of God accomplishes the purpose He has for it. It creates life. The Word of God comforts and gives joy. By it, we find hope. Healing occurs. It reveals the hidden secrets of the heart and judges sin. Paul told Timothy it was good for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness so that the man (or woman) of God will be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. The writer to the Hebrews tells us it is alive, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. This sword works within, piercing even to dividing the soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It discerns what is in the heart. God sees all. He requires an accounting. The Holy Spirit within us guides and directs, gives life and power to the words. Therefore, allow the Spirit to use it.

More Than Conquerors Through the Spirit’s Sword

A powerful example of a conqueror wielding the sword comes to us at the temptation of Jesus in Luke 4. With each temptation Jesus answered with a word of God. Even when the tempter who also knows the word of God, used it against Him, Jesus being all wise saw the deceit. Jesus was the Word of God. It was implanted in His heart. Even from childhood He loved the scriptures and studied them. He lived them. He spoke truth. His word forgave sins and healed the sick. With His word, He raised the dead. The resurrected Christ goes out conquering and to conquer. Such is the Word of God.

As believers, we have the sword of the Spirit. We have the Word of God in Christ Jesus dwelling within us. Read the written word inspired by the Holy Spirit, study it, ask for understanding, memorize it, let it speak into the situations of your life. Allow it to bring healing and hope. Use it in prayer for others. Use it wisely. “Rightly divide the word” Paul told Timothy. When we have the word of God implanted within us, and are allowing the Spirit to use it, we will be more than conquerors through the Spirit’s sword. Teach us Dear Jesus to use our swords in these our times.

October 16, 2020 0 comment

Christian armour

Taking the Helmet of Salvation

by Esther Griggs October 9, 2020

written by Esther Griggs

The helmet of salvation, like all the armour Paul describes, comes from God. At the dawn of history, when mankind disobeyed God, He made a plan. Rather than wrath, He poured out His grace and offered the gift of His salvation. The result would be an everlasting salvation. God foretells this plan of salvation through the Old Testament, provides it through His Son Jesus Christ, and offers it to individuals.

*“Sing to the Lord all the earth;* Proclaim the news of His salvation from day to day,”1 Chr.16:23.

Foretold Through the Old Testament

As the gavel fell on that evil day at the beginning of time, God announced His plan of salvation; “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel.” From that point, it ripples its way through history. Peter tells us that the prophets inquired and searched diligently of salvation, and spoke of the grace that would come to God’s children. Also, we see it as we read the Psalms, and study the writings of Isaiah, Habakkuk and Zechariah. From them we learn this gift of salvation comes at a heavy price.

Provided Through Jesus Christ

The life of Jesus was the price. Zechariah saw it when filled with the Spirit he said, “Behold your king is coming to you, He is just and having salvation; lowly and riding on a donkey.” Later, the Priest Zacharias, father of John the Baptist, prophesied under the influence of the Holy Spirit, “He has raised up a horn of salvation for us, in the House of David.” Then the devout Simeon also prompted by the Holy Spirit, as Joseph and Mary presented Jesus, declared, “For my eyes have seen Your salvation.” Finally Peter at Pentecost, full of the Spirit, proclaimed, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved.”

Offers It To Individuals

Because of it, the Apostle Paul endured all things to spread the word. He was not ashamed of the gospel. Through it we would hear and believe, receiving salvation. God set His chosen ones apart by the Spirit and their belief in the truth. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Paul preached. Then further admonished, “Don’t put it off. Work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling.” Then later, the writer to the Hebrews admonishes his readers, by asking, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation which at the first was spoken of by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?” Thus when we hear the question “What will you do with Jesus?” We hear it personally. The affirmative answer is our helmet. Therefore, take it.

God foretells this plan of salvation through the Old Testament, provides it through His Son Jesus Christ, and offers it to individuals.

October 9, 2020 0 comment

Christian armour

Above All Taking the Shield of Faith

by Esther Griggs October 2, 2020

written by Esther Griggs

So far, as we have looked into Paul’s list of armour, we have seen items worn on the body. Our next piece, however, away from the body, comes between the evil one and us. Here we take the shield of faith. Paul writes, “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Consider the mighty shield of faith, how to take hold of it, our ability to wield it, and how it works for us.

How to Take Hold of It

Faith is the foundation of our walk with Jesus. It comes as we hear the word of God and He brings it to life in us. Jesus is the author of our faith. He is also the finisher. When we hear God’s word He plants it in our hearts, like the tiny mustard seed that Jesus talks about. It grows and we bear fruit. Without faith, we are told it is impossible to please God, yet it is our faith in the work of Jesus, that He sees and counts as righteousness. It is evidence of what we hope for and the substance of what we cannot see. The more we read His word and see it work in our lives, the stronger it grows.

Our Ability to Wield It

Faith does not work alone. It is one of the three things that abide; faith, hope and love. The walk with Jesus is of faith and not by sight. Peter tells us God has given us “exceedingly great and precious promises” so we can take part in the divine nature of Jesus. Taking hold of God’s nature through faith we add diligence, and virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance and godliness, brotherly kindness and love. James tells us that without works, our faith is dead. God tests our faith, but as He does so He is working patience in us. James tells us patience does a perfect work in us.

How it Works for Us

We must not take light of our enemy’s power. He aims fiery darts at us. However, our shield, our faith, has the power to quench; to thoroughly douse those fiery darts. We know he is a liar. We read God’s Word and stand on it. He also is an accuser. The word of God comes to us again. “There is therefore no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” We learn to recognize Jesus as a shield about us. We learn the authority and power we have in Christ to do His works through our faith in Him. Read the promises, memorize them, verbalize them. Hold up the shield of faith. Consider the mighty shield of faith, how to take hold of it, our ability to wield it, and how it works for us.

October 2, 2020 0 comment

Christian armour spiritual battle victorious living

Having Put On the Breastplate of Righteousness

by Esther Griggs September 18, 2020

written by Esther Griggs

We learn the importance of righteousness from the characters of the Old Testament. In Genesis we discover how God saved Noah and his family because He saw he was righteous in his generation; a generation so wicked God could no longer tolerate it. Job also valued his righteousness. He held it firmly because he did not want the condemnation of his heart. When Abraham heard God’s call and believed what He said, God labelled it rightousness. The breastplate of righteousness covers the heart. Like the fathers of our faith, we need to have it on. Righteousness is an act of faith, it is a gift of God, and a protection in evil days.

“*trees of righteousness, a planting of the Lord”*

Righeousness Is An Act of Faith

The writer of Hebrews tells us that when Abraham believed in God, God saw it as righteousness. When Noah built the ark as God instructed, God saw righteousness. Job ascribed righteousness to his maker. When the Psalmist David wrote about righteousness, he wrote about what he could not see, but what he believed to be God’s word to his heart. He saw “righteousness and justice” as the foundations of God’s throne. He declared, “His righteousness endures forever.” Isaiah’s faith spoke into the days of Christ Jesus when he wrote. “Look to me and be saved … For I am God and there is no other. I have sworn to myself, the word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to me every knee shall bow. Every tongue shall take an oath. He shall say, ‘Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength.'”

Righteousness Is A Gift of God

The prophet Hosea tells his readers to seek God until “He comes and rains righeousness on you.” In Romans Paul exclaims,”For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the GIFT of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ.” In Philippians Paul further states, “And being found in Him not having my own rightousness which is from the law but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is FROM GOD through faith.”

Righteousness Is Protection In Evil Days

In Romans Paul also speaks of the Jews who tried to establish a righteousness of their own. He writes that they did not submit to the righteousness of God. It was about themselves. Our righteousness is as filthy rags in light of the gift of God through the Lord Jesus. “For God made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God, in Him.” We falter in our attempts to clean ourselves up and dress in the ripped and dirty clothes of our own doing when He has provided robes of righteousness pure and white. We don’t only stand in the evil day but we reign as we trust in the righteousness we have in Christ Jesus, that righteousness which comes by faith and is a gift from God which protects us and causes us to reign.

September 18, 2020 2 comments

Christian armour

Put on the Belt of Truth

by Esther Griggs September 11, 2020

written by Esther Griggs

Paul lists the belt of truth as the first piece of God’s armour. The great foe is a deceiver. By deceiving the entire world, he holds them in darkness and ignorance. Jesus states that He is the truth. In looking to and abiding in Jesus as the truth, we need not fall for the deceivers’ ploys, but stand in these evil days. The belt of truth protects us when the great deceiver would question who God is, who we are, and God’s work in our world.

Thy word is truth. — *“Thy Word is truth.”*

Who God Is

God is the great I Am. Not only is He the creator, but He also is our provider. God is our healer and our Redeemer. Jesus, is also the image of the invisible God, the head of the body, in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, the light of the world, thus He is our salvation and our shield. As God and Father of all of us, His word is truth. He is love, and it is impossible for Him to lie. As a consuming fire, He lives.

Who We Are

God’s word states we are God’s creation, new in Christ Jesus. Also, we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Peter states that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a special people to God to proclaim forth His praises. We are salt and light in the world. God purchased our lives by the blood of Christ. As the writer of Hebrews writes, “let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

God’s Work in the World

Peter further tells us that mockers will come in the last days. Remember, we are not fighting flesh and blood. the deception of the evil one has darkened their understanding. These will question the promise of Christ’s return. However, God is not delaying. Rather, He is longsuffering. Instead, His desire is that all should be saved and come to repentance. He is waiting for those who will repent. Besides, He works to fulfill His promises. In addition, God is shaking our world so that the things that cannot be shaken will remain.

His word tells us it is the truth that sets us free. Truth preserves us. God’s word is truth. His word acts as a shield and a buckler, a smaller, more personal shield. Hiding His word in our hearts keeps us from sin. The enemy of our souls inserts lies to cast doubt regarding our God, insecurity about who we are and questions of God’s works in our world. Therefore, put on the belt of truth. It holds us steady when the great deceiver would question who God is, who we are, and God’s work in our world.

September 11, 2020 0 comment