The Sword Of The Spirit – Dr. Neil Anderson

The Sword Of The Spirit – Dr. Neil Anderson

Ephesians 6:17 

And take... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

The Word of God is the only offensive weapon mentioned in the list of armor. Since Paul used rhema instead of logos for "word" in Ephesians 6:17, I believe Paul is referring to the spoken Word of God. We are to defend ourselves against the evil one by speaking aloud God's Word.

Why is it so important to speak God's Word in addition to believing it and thinking it? Because Satan is a created being, and he doesn't perfectly know what you're thinking. By observing you, he can pretty well tell what you are thinking, just as any student of human behavior can. And it isn't difficult for him to know what you're thinking if he put the thought in. But he doesn't know what you're going to do before you do it. He can put thoughts into your mind, and he will know whether you buy his lie by how you behave.

Satan can try to influence you by planting thoughts in your head, but he can't read your thoughts. If you're going to resist Satan, you must do so verbally so he can understand you and be put to flight.

 You can communicate with God in your mind and spirit because He knows the thoughts and intents of your heart (Hebrews 4:12). Your unspoken communion with God is your private sanctuary; Satan cannot eavesdrop on you. But by the same token, if you only tell Satan with your thoughts to leave, he won't leave because he is under no obligation to obey your thoughts. You must defeat Satan by speaking out. The good news is that most direct attacks occur at night or when you are alone.

 One night I woke up absolutely terrified for no apparent reason, and I knew it was an attack from Satan. Without lifting my head from the pillow, I applied the two-step remedy suggested in James 4:7. In the sanctuary of my heart, I submitted to God. Then I was able to resist Satan with one spoken word--Jesus--and the fear was instantly and totally gone. I went back to sleep in complete peace.

 Prayer: Lord, give me courage to take my stand in this world and defeat Satan by speaking Your Word

 

 

The Helmet Of Salvation – Dr. Neil Anderson

The Helmet Of Salvation – Dr. Neil Anderson

Ephesians 6:17 

And take the helmet of salvation

The next necessary piece of spiritual armor is the helmet of salvation . Should your shield of faith be a little leaky and your daily victory elusive, be confident that the helmet of salvation guarantees your eternal victory. In the metaphor of armor, the helmet also secures coverage for the most critical part of your anatomy: your mind, where spiritual battles are either won or lost. As you struggle with the world, the flesh, and the devil on a daily basis, stand firm knowing that your salvation does not come and go with your success or failure in spiritual battle; your salvation is your eternal possession. You are a child of God, and nothing can separate you from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35).

People experiencing spiritual conflict tend to question their salvation or doubt their identity in Christ. Satan may disrupt your daily victory, but he can do nothing to disrupt your position in Christ. However, if he can get you to believe that you are not in Christ, you will live as though you are not, even though you are secure in Him.

 The Christian warrior wears the helmet of salvation in the sense that he is the receiver and possessor of deliverance, clothed and armed in the victory of his Head, Jesus Christ. Satan is the ruler of this world, and the whole world is in his power (John 12:31; 1 John 5:19). Therefore we are still in his territory as long as we are present in our physical bodies. But since we are joined to the Lord Jesus Christ, the devil has no legitimate claim on us, for Christ has "delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son" (Colossians 1:13). The helmet of our position in Christ assures us of ultimate victory over Satan.

 Prayer: I love You, Father, and thank You that I am united with Christ and spiritually alive in Him.

The Shield Of Faith – Dr. Neil Anderson

“Wisdom is the capacity to see things from God's viewpoint.” – Dr. Charles Stanley

The Shield Of Faith – Dr. Neil Anderson

Ephesians 6:16 

Taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one

 

Paul mentions three more pieces of armor that we must take up to protect ourselves from Satan's attack: the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God. The first three (the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace) are established by our position in Christ; these last three help us continue to win the battle.

Contrary to popular perception, there is nothing mystical about faith. Biblical faith is simply what you believe about God and His Word. The more you know about God and His Word, the more faith you will have. The less you know, the smaller your shield will be and the easier it will be for one of Satan's fiery darts to reach its target. If you want your shield of faith to grow large and protective, your knowledge of God and His Word must increase (Romans 10:17).

These flaming missiles from Satan are nothing more than smoldering lies, burning accusations, and fiery temptations bombarding our minds. When a deceptive thought, accusation, or temptation enters your mind, meet it head-on with what you know to be true about God and His Word. How did Jesus deflect the missiles of Satan's temptation? By shielding Himself with statements from the Word of God. Every time you memorize a Bible verse, listen to a sermon, or participate in a Bible study, you increase your knowledge of God and enlarge your shield of faith.

We all struggle with tempting and accusing thoughts. If you are a healthy and mature Christian, they will bounce right off your shield of faith.

Prayer: Lord, I raise up the shield of faith today and stand against tempting and accusing thoughts from the evil one.

 

Check the fine print – Pete Briscoe

Check the fine print – Pete Briscoe

“He that falls into sin is a man; that grieves at it, is a saint; that boasteth of it, is a devil.”--Thomas Fuller

To someone who struggles with habitual sin, all the talk about being “dead to sin” might sound too good to be true—kind of like the late night TV infomercial that promises to clean your dog and restore worn out leatherand take inches off your thighs with one application and no effort if you buy by midnight on Friday. Yeah, right! Maybe it’s time to read a little of the fine print.

This is really important—don’t skip this paragraph! Being “dead to sin” doesn’t mean that sin is dead, or that we are immune to sin. In Romans 1-5 sin is a generally a verb, actions we do. Starting in Romans 6, sin is a noun, an entity. Indwelling sin, that internal voice that tempts us, is still alive and active in our lives even after we trust Christ. It is in us, but it is not who we are (like a sliver in my finger, it is in me, annoying, painful, but it is not “me.”)

The “voice” of indwelling sin is very real and because it comes from inside us, it leads many to believe we still have a sin nature. Our flesh (our desire to do things in our own strength, independent of God) is still responsive to sin. So even though we are in Christ and have His Spirit in our spirit. when the world, Satan, the flesh, and indwelling sin team up on us, the allure of sin is still a powerful force! Anytime we don’t choose to walk in the Spirit, BAMMO!—sin will follow. So yes, it’s going to happen, but this is the cool part:

For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. —Romans 6:14

There is a huge difference between being vulnerable to sin and being mastered by it!

 

Did You Know and Can You HELP???

Bridging the Stress Gap

Bridging the Stress Gap

Adrian Rogers

BIBLE MEDITATION: “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

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Stress is nothing new. Noah had it when he was building the ark with no rain in sight. Martha had it when she was preparing a meal for our Lord. Stress is the gap between the demands placed on us and the strength we have in meeting those demands. It is not a sin to be stressed, nor a sin to be weary. It is a sin, though, not to seek a lessening of that stress which tears down the temple of the Holy Spirit, your body. Where is your answer? In waiting upon the Lord — waiting in the midst of demands. When you learn to wait on Him, God steps in to bridge the stress gap with His mighty strength.

ACTION POINT:
Ask God to equip you to be a stress-buster today. Perhaps it will be your boss or your spouse that is “stressed out.” Rejoice in the opportunity you have to share God’s love.

The Church’s Special Privilege – Alistair Begg

“Prayer is the link that connects us with God.” – A. B. Simpson

The Church’s Special Privilege – Alistair Begg

Luke 18:1

Jesus has sent His Church into the world on the same errand upon which He Himself came, and this mission includes intercession. What if I say that the Church is the world's priest? Creation is dumb, but the Church finds a mouth for it. It is the Church's high privilege to pray with acceptance. The door of grace is always open for her petitions, and they never return empty-handed. The curtain was torn for her; the blood was sprinkled upon the altar for her; God constantly invites her to bring her requests. Will she refuse the privilege that angels might envy? Is she not the bride of Christ? Can she not approach her King at any hour? Will she allow the precious privilege to be unused?

The Church always needs to pray. There are always some among her who are declining or falling into open sin. There are lambs to be prayed for, that they may be carried in Christ's bosom; the strong, lest they grow presumptuous; and the weak, lest they become despairing. If we kept up prayer-meetings twenty-four hours a day all the days in the year, we might never be without a special subject for supplication.

Is there ever a time when no one is sick or poor or afflicted or wavering? Is there ever a time when we do not seek the conversion of relatives, the reclaiming of backsliders, or the salvation of the lost? With congregations constantly gathering, with ministers always preaching, with millions of sinners lying dead in trespasses and sins—in a country over which the darkness of religious formalism is certainly descending—in a world full of idols, cruelties, devils—if the Church does not pray, how will she excuse her neglect of the commission of her loving Lord? Let the Church be constant in supplication; let every private believer give himself to the ministry of prayer.

Sid Stewart
Executive Director, Haven of Rest Ministries, Inc.
www.havenofrest.cc
864 226-6193

 

Five Hindrances - Dr. Neil Anderson

Five Hindrances – Dr. Neil Anderson

 

James 1:25

One who looks intently at the perfect law . . . not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does

While God has given us an infallible guide to life--His Word--the truth he wants us to follow for our freedom can be obscured by our bias and selfish indulgence. In the twentieth-century Western church, I see at least five major hindrances which affect our understanding and application of the Word of God.

First, there is a tendency to make doctrine an end in itself. Christian maturity is not understanding the principles of the Bible; Christian maturity is character. If what we come to accept as truth doesn't affect our love for God and man, something is radically wrong (1 Timothy 1:5). "Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies" (1 Corinthians 8:1).

Second, we can learn a lot about God from Scripture and not know Him at all. Before his conversion, Paul knew the law, but he didn't recognize God in Christ when he saw Him. We're not asked to fall in love with doctrine. We're asked to fall in love with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Third, we often encourage memorizing Scripture instead of thinking scripturally. Our model should be, "The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). We are to incarnate the Word of God. We are to have our lives transformed by it, and our minds renewed by it.

Fourth, we often hear the Word and then don't do it. The will of God is thwarted by educating people beyond their obedience. Jesus taught: "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them" (John 13:17).

Fifth, like the Pharisees, we tend to neglect the commandment of God and hold to the traditions of men (Mark 7:8). I believe this is one of the most serious problems affecting our churches today. Many seminary graduates are called as "new wine" (zealous to serve God according to the truth of His Word) to "old wineskin" churches (rooted in the traditions of men), and the results are disastrous for both.

Prayer: Lord, renew me today by Your Word. I want to grow in my love for You, not just the truth about You

 

Sid Stewart

Executive Director, Haven of Rest Ministries, Inc.
www.havenofrest.cc
864 226-6193

Abundant Life: Adrain Rogers

Abundant Life: Adrain Rogers

 

BIBLE MEDITATION: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Abundant life is God’s plan for you. In fact, it's God's plan for all of us as Christians. The Lord Jesus Christ promised us, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Now, what is abundant life? It is life where all of your needs are met. But more than that, abundant life is where you have enough to bless others. Not only do you receive a blessing, but you are a blessing. The abundant life that Jesus promised is not just life out yonder “in the sweet by and by.” It is abundant life right now in the nasty now and now. Every day in every way we are to be having victory in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

ACTION POINT:
Who in your life is not experiencing the abundant life? Your mother? Your husband? Your best friend? Take time out today to encourage them with this promise in 1 Peter.

Is It Too Late for National Revival?

Is It Too Late for National Revival?

Adrian Rogers

BIBLE MEDITATION: “If My people who are called by My name shall humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I am believing God for a national revival. You know, sometimes we think that it’s just too late and we need to hunker down. That’s what the devil wants us to do.

It’s always too soon to quit. God has sent revival in the darkest days before, and there’s not one shred of Scripture that says we cannot have revival in dark days.

It is not too late for America. And I don’t want you to say, “My country, right or wrong.” No, I want you to get right. One by one, let’s get right with God and then we can say it, sing it, pray it and mean it, “God bless America.” But there’s something more important than America, and it’s the kingdom of God. I’m not interested in making America a better place to go to hell from. People need to be saved.

ACTION POINT:
The best thing you could do would be to lead another person to Jesus Christ. Then you will not just have a better citizen—you’ll have a new creation and a citizen of God’s kingdom! If someone asked you today how to be saved, are you prepared to lead them to Jesus Christ?

Are You Faithful in Little Things?

Daily Devotion with Adrian Rogers

Are You Faithful in Little Things?

BIBLE MEDITATION: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” Luke 16:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
There was a man who was going to be made a chief executive. The Board of Directors talked about it, and it was a “done deal.” In the company cafeteria one day, the existing CEO was behind this man in line. Unbeknownst to the man, the CEO saw him take a pat of butter that cost about 3 cents, then put a slice of bread over the butter so that no one would see it. The CEO went back to the Board and told them they had the wrong man. He told them that he didn’t have integrity. And for 3 cents the man lost a monumental promotion!

ACTION POINT:
Are you faithful in the little things? Let this be the beginning of a new day of faithfulness in your life. Remember the little things. God is watching to find you faithful.

Psalm 27: 4-5

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27: 4-5

Held by His Omnipotent Hand

Daily Devotion with Adrian Rogers
Held by His Omnipotent Hand

BIBLE MEDITATION: “Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I’ve heard people say, “Pray for us that we’ll hold out faithful to the end.” I think I know what they mean, but I always smile. I picture Noah’s ark, and I can see Noah and his wife and family. Rather than being on the inside, they’re holding on to some slimy pegs on the outside of the ark. And Noah says to Mrs. Noah, “Honey, pray for me that I’ll hold out faithful to the end.” But God said to Noah, “Come into the ark,” and the same God that shut the water out, shut Noah in. Now Noah may have fallen down inside that ark, but he never fell out of it. It’s not that we hold on to Him, but that He holds on to us.

ACTION POINT:
Spend some time today simply praising God for His faithfulness, His steadfastness, and His unconditional love for you.

Amazing Grace by Charles R. Swindoll

“The cross is the lightning rod of grace that short-circuits God's wrath to Christ so that only the light of His love remains for believers.” – A. W. Tozer

Amazing Grace by Charles R. Swindoll

Fix your hope completely
on the grace to be brought to you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:13

Imagine coming to the house of a friend who has invited you over to enjoy a meal. You finish the delicious meal and then listen to some fine music and visit for a while. Finally, you stand up and get your coat as you prepare to leave.

But before you leave you reach into your pocket and say, "Now, how much do I owe you?" What an insult! You don't do that with someone who has graciously given you a meal.

Isn't it strange, though, how this world is running over with people who think there's something they must do to pay God back?

Somehow they are hoping God will smile on them if they work real hard and earn His acceptance. But that's an acceptance on the basis of works. That's not the way it is with grace. . . .

God smiles on us because of His Son's death and resurrection. It's grace, my friend, amazing grace.

Sid Stewart

Executive Director, Haven of Rest Ministries, Inc.
www.havenofrest.cc
864 226-6193