Marriage Anchors

The second of God’s Armor pieces we must put on daily is:

The Breastplate of His Righteousness

Most of you know this is not our attempt at being good, righteous, or a clean cut, helping, church attending person. This is all filthy rags if this is the only thing you are depending on. Yes, you are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10b ESV), but never think you can stand on them or behind them to represent Jesus and fight against the powers of darkness.

Isaiah 61:10c says it well: “For he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,” (ESV) The best news is that He has put His Righteousness on us, His beloved family members and fellow soldiers of the cross. It can never be removed. Remember to simply stand wearing it by faith against all forces of wickedness. And they will come! If they haven’t much yet, get in the game!

“Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter…Truth is lacking…it displeased him that there was no justice… He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak….So they shall fear the name of the Lord…”  (excerpts from Isaiah 59: 14-19  ESV)

Let us pray today that we each would be mindful of His Breastplate of Righteousness freely given to us.

https://www.jesusfilm.org/app.html

Comments? [email protected]

You are in the battle right now. The first of God’s Armor pieces we must put on is:

The Belt of Truth

All of God’s Word, the Bible, is all of God…inspired, infallible, eternal, all true, always. The Apostate Church which is growing in number, refuses this. They wallow in tragic kindness. For them, it is all about love. That’s it. The devil’s tactic. We, who follow the Lord and are counted in His ranks, stand on His Truth: All of it! “We stand in grace (Romans 5:2); We stand in the gospel   (1Corinthinas 15:1); We stand in courage and strength (1Corinthians 16:13); We stand in faith (2Corinthians 1:24); We stand in Christian liberty (Galatians 5:1); We stand in Christian unity (Philippians 1:27); We stand in the Lord (Philippians 4:1); We stand perfect  and complete in the will of God (Colossians 4:12).[i]

All of this means that we are going to be attacked. Fear has no place with us. We must be vigilant, at our post, and fully attentive. Like Sir Winston Churchill, We never give up…never retreat. Full steam ahead!

Let us pray for each other right now that we will first gird ourselves with this Belt of Truth. Many vital battle accouterments depend on this. Make sure this belt is buckled, not just thrown in the back seat.

[i] (All ESV) https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Eph/Eph-6.cfm?a=1103001

Years ago, I loved to play an old fashioned Pin Ball Game at an out of the way burger restaurant. When I’d finally hit the steel ball in the center of the draw bridge, a deep bellowing voice carried out from within the machine… “Attack the Castle!”  With great expectancy, about 5 balls would suddenly be released and I would hit those fine steel balls at the walls of the castle to conquer it and take it down!

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, and in particular, Chapter 6:10-18 is not just a significant section of Scripture. It is mandatory for the follower of Christ if he or she wants to truly be a Soldier for the Cross and impact eternity by winning and strengthening souls on behalf of Jesus!

Right now, the devil and his rulers, his authorities, his cosmic powers over this present darkness, and his spiritual forces of evil are plotting not to attack the castle, but rather to Attack the Christian! You, dear brother or sister, in the saved family of God, are his target. Because you are Christ’s personal Ambassador and you are in His Army, the devil has painted a bull’s eye on your back.

Paul sums up his letter to the Christians in Ephesus by saying, “Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (v. 11) But many fail to emphasize verse 10. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (Bold added) We’d better be sure that we are yoked up with Jesus, spending time in His Word, and learning moment by moment to abide (John 15:5) in Him.

If we are not walking in close fellowship with our Master, Lord, and Battle Commander, there is little chance His Armor will fit or can be carried. We will not be strong enough. We will be in “our strength”, not His.

Let us pray for each other today that each of us would be made battle ready and battle strong!

(Ephesians 6:10-18   ESV) Comments? Send to [email protected]

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”  (2Corinthians 5:14-15  ESV Bold added)

I have been leading a Bible study on the Book of Acts in the New Testament for over a year now. One thing is evident! The Apostle Paul, once saved by the Lord Jesus Christ, no longer lived for himself.

He lived only for one Person: His Lord, Master, Redeemer, and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords! “…but for him…” Who do you live for right now…today?

If the scales were brought out, would you and I be found wanting?

Are we merely Christian in name but just a millimeter under the surface, we are pure self?

This is a tough question. I do thank my God and Savior often that His love for me has nothing to do with my miserable and inconsistent track record as a Christian. Rather, His unconditional love for me is because of His amazing, never ending favor and kindness toward me, once so lost I couldn’t see my nose in my darkness.

It is because of His Son, His sacrifice, sin payment, and resurrection that I am set free! I thank Jesus who voluntarily went to the Cross for me where The Great Exchange occurred: His Righteousness for my filthy rags. Wow! Isaiah 61:10

Please send comments to: [email protected]

The Real Gospel

The Spirit-Filled Life

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.”  (Proverbs 19:21   ESV)

Someone once said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re trying to live it.” I confess I often don’t like that quote. However, if you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, you will find this verse absolutely true. I’ve had to learn it often kicking and clawing each step of the way. I am a proud, stubborn soul. I don’t learn His Truth easily. How about you?

Are you stubborn and often proud of heart like me? If you are human, and if you are reading this, you probably are like me. Oh…we don’t like others to know of our frailties and cracks in our armor, but we, if honest, are a pretty needy lot.

I find the way I am wired, I look for ways to self-protect or self-promote. Sadly, if at the end of the day, if I haven’t achieved one or both of these fleshly, worldly pursuits, I find myself both frustrated and discontent. Can some of you relate?

It’s as if I’m on a tropical island all alone building up my grass and stick hut 8 feet off the ground so wild beasts and ocean floods will not reach my safe, secure world.

The frustrating and sometimes funny thing is that while I’m trying to prop up my hut stilts and posts with rope and vine, God is there trying to kick out my protective slats and 8 foot posts ruining my attempt at solving my life’s problems, troubles, and insecurities.

At first thought, it seems like He is not for me but against me!

Humbly, let us pray that each of us will learn to yield unto His way, His timing, His honor.

“Though he slay me,

I will hope in him...” 

(Job 13:15a ESV)

Please send comments to: [email protected]

The Real Gospel

The Spirit-Filled Life

Like me, you’ve had those times in life where you’ve been praised or recognized for some accomplishment or achievement. Also, like me, you’ve no doubt had more than a few times when you’ve been back stabbed, slandered, stepped on or down right shafted.

There have been times when I have not responded well. I’ve been offended and gotten my feathers ruffled. Somehow during those miserable times, I lack good sense.

I choose to take control of things. I usurp command from Jesus, who is supposed to be my Lord, Master, and Shepherd. Instead of overlooking an offense, I look for ways to magnify the offense. I feel I deserve retribution! I want justice and I want it now! “Why…I did not deserve to be treated that way! No way! That person is a jerk! I’m going to demand justice! I’ll show them! I’ll teach them a lesson!”

Now I imagine you have never felt like that. Right!

When I yield unto the Lordship and rule of Jesus in my heart and when I ask Him to help me respond as He wants me to respond, He gives me what I lack: Good sense. Then and only then will I become slow to anger. Then and only then will I overlook the offense.

Let’s pray we each humble ourselves right now, today, that He would give us His calm, kind, good sense.

Please send comments to: [email protected]

The Real Gospel

The Spirit-Filled Life

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”  (John 1:29  ESV)

These days, if you watch the news and read about many main line churches, or what’s going on in many college campuses, the great passion of today is not what John, the Baptist, is saying here.

There is an overwhelming pressure for social justice, diversity, full acceptance of many minority identity groups, and the idea that “you are not a Christian church or a good person if you don’t love, promote, celebrate, and endorse just about every lifestyle and identity plea that is thrown at you." Inclusion! Inclusion! Inclusion!

The Apostle Paul emphatically states in 1Corinthians 14:1a “Pursue love,” (ESV). Another version says, “Make love thy great quest.” The KJV renders it, “Follow after charity,”. Paul, earlier in 1Corinthians 13:3 says, “…but have not love, I gain nothing.” (ESV)

God is love and God is for love. We dare not forget that!  

But He is also the God of eternal, unchanging, inerrant truth. I believe John, the Baptist, knew about this ‘never to be separated duo’ of love and truth.

Proverbs 3:3 states this essential connection. “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the tablet of thine heart.”  (KJV   Bold added)

These two, mercy and truth are never to be found separate. Yes, Jesus was, is and always will be about love. But as John declared here, may we never forget the eternally important truth that Jesus came to save sinners from being damned and lost forever!

I guess in these days of the watered down or forgotten Gospel, I’d like to see us all return to a more healthy balance of mercy and truth.  Concepts like conviction, repentance from sin, and a holy reverence for the Word of God are desperately needed in our churches, our campuses, and our culture. Please join me in praying for this if you are led.

Please send comments to: [email protected]

The Real Gospel

The Spirit-Filled Life