What are you wearing right now? What do you wear to bed? What do you wear to the gym? To church? On a date?
Right now, I'm babysitting my assoc. pastor's adorable son, Tate. With that said, I'm wearing an over-sized ESPN shirt that I won when I met the NY Rangers' Carl Hagelin and comfortable sweatpants. No makeup, no socks and best of all, no worries. And I would pretty much wear this anywhere, if that answers that other questions.
But I always have another outfit on at the same time, decked out in grace and strength, called the Armor of God.
Ephesians 6:12 says that our battle is not of flesh and blood but evil rulers of the unseen world. Some workout gear would help if you were running away from a flesh and blood thief, but this is a different thief... the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) And trust me, unless you have on every piece of the Armor, he will. But if you do put on the Armor, after the battle, you will stand firm. I am a big fan of the word after. Who cares about before? What's important is after. After the shock, after the pain, after the fight, after you've given it all you've got. After the battle you will stand firm. It's in the Bible. It's a promise. God doesn't break promises.
Okay, Jackie, why are you telling me this? Glad you asked.
Because it's His armor, not ours. His strength, not ours. His protection, not ours. But we still need to put up the fight.
You cannot do it on your own, take it from someone who has tried. Apart from God you can do nothing. But with Him you can do anything.
First, in the amazing passage in Ephesians, the Word says, "Put on the belt of truth, and the body armor of God's righteousness."
I'll get into the belt of truth later, but right now I want to focus on the body armor of God's righteousness. Other translations say the 'breastplate of righteousness.' Tomato, tomato. Same thing. Either way, for the most part, body armor and breastplates are to protect your heart above all things. If you're wounded there, it's man down without a fight.
In Romans 3, the Word says we are made right, or righteous, with God by faith in Jesus Christ. We need to protect that righteousness with body armor out the wazoo because the next verse says, "For we ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." And it's true. Pastors, me, my church, the pope, Peter and Paul. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And the verse after that says that although we are this way, God has declared us righteous to Him.
But the devil would love to tell us otherwise. He makes it his job. He's the king of lies, and he's good at what he does.
To me, the opposite of righteousness is condemnation. Nothing puts a strain on your relationship with your amazing Heavenly Father like thinking you're not right with Him because of the devil's condemnation. I've said before in another post that the devil is the whispering voice that tells you to do something you know you shouldn't, and then is the first one to say, "God saw that." Nothing strains our relationship with God like condemnation, because in Jesus there is NO condemnation. It is a lie from the devil himself and we need to protect our right to be righteous in God because that ONE shot, that ONE fiery dart of the enemy straight to the heart will take you out and keep you out.
Next we have the shoes: "For shoes, put on the peace that comes with the Good News so that you will be fully prepared."
As I read this, I kinda freaked out. (No judging. Jesus is watching.) Prepare? For what?
Then as I was thinking on it, I realized that the Good News of Jesus literally sets us free. It breaks chains. It is the only truth in this entire world. The only way to fight off the lies of this world, the lies in your heart and the lies of the enemy is the Word, is the Good News.
Then I realized: When you're running for your life, literally...When the enemy, when the devil himself is chasing you...When your temptations are running after you like they need to hop on your back and whisper in your ear just to survive (because they do), how will you run without the right shoes?
I really stress getting into the word; if you think just going to church on Sunday and then maybe watching another sermon one day of the week is good to help you completely win the battle, you're wrong. You'll bend down to tie your shoes, enemy closely behind you, only to realize that all you've got on your feet are flip flops. Have you ever tried to run in flip flops?
Bottom line: You're not prepared.
Be prepared.
Read the word.
Put on your Good News Nike's and show the devil who's boss. (God.)
We are to put on the shield of faith to stop the enemy's arrows from even reaching us. This is important. Before even using the breastplate of righteousness, the enemy has to get through that first shield of faith. Keep your faith firm and strong. If you keep that shield of faith down, there is nothing stopping the enemy from getting into your heart. In my opinion, this needs to be the strongest form of protection of them all.
We are to put on salvation as our helmet so that the enemy's arrows won't get in our heads and tell us we'll never be good enough... salvation has made us new! Don't listen to that poo poo head.
Here's the best part: the second part of Ephesians 6:17 says, "...and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."
First and foremost, the only way we fight the enemy off, essentially, is the Word.
When the enemy lies and tells you God has left you, we fight him with Psalm 139.
When the enemy tells you you have no purpose, we fight him with Ephesians 1:10-11.
The word of God is the only weapon we should, and are told, to use and thank goodness that it's the most effective one out there.
As I said before, I'm going to get back into the belt of truth. The word is often called the truth. And it's right; it's the only truth in the world. It's only right that it goes hand in hand with the belt of truth. After all, aren't swords always drawn from the belt of the warrior.
So are you going to put on the armor, or are you going to run in flip flops?
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Take it into your own hands, or let it slip right through your fingers.
The book of Joel in the Bible has got to be one of my favorite books. I consider it a fly-over book, like a fly-over state... kinda just...there. But after actually digging into it, I found that it is one of the most beautiful books in the Bible. And there has been this burning, itching in my heart to write about this for a long, long time.
The book of Joel starts with complete and utter destruction. Literally. Locusts are swarming everywhere, people are hysterical, the people are (finally) calling out to God for help. There are thick, black clouds of darkness, the earth quakes and the stars stop shining.
And suddenly... God shows up. This is why it's one of my favorite books. In one sentence, the book changes.
Joel 2:12 - "That is why the Lord says, 'Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts.'"
Hope. That's what God is saying in short. "I love you. You messed up, but it's okay. There is still time. Come to me." And this is why it has been a burden on my heart: What if we're meant to be the one sentence in someone's life? Have you ever met someone and they say one thing to you and you never forget? What if we are called to be that person for the Kingdom's cause?
He's promising hope when in the next verse He says, "Return to the Lord, your God."
Here's where I'm going to challenge anyone reading this: who are you going to help? Who are you going to be one sentence to? Who are you going to help return to the Lord your God?
Down a little further in verse 22, God starts to talk about plants growing back, hinting at a little normalcy. But I don't think He is promising that kind of prosperity... He's is showing that when we go back to Him He will provide for us. He promises to give us what we need and He of all people knows that our deepest, most 'malnourished' (for lack of a better word) needs are spiritual.
I connect this to Joel 2:28 ... God says, "Then, after doing all those things, I will pour my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophecy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions."
After.
No rain, no rainbow. No destruction, no peace.
My pastor, Miriam, said a reference once that reminds me of this: she talked about how a miner takes a diamond in it's rawest form and literally puts it through fire until all of its impurities come up, then the miner wipes them off and does it again until he can see his reflection in the diamond.
God said after doing all those things... After putting you through the fire, after wiping the impurities from you, I will pour out my Spirit. After the rain, I will send a rainbow.
Will you show someone how to praise through the fire? Will you show someone that God does things with us in mind? Or is it too much effort. Is the grace of God too near and dear to your heart to share it?
No offense, I know God is a jealous lover for me. He doesn't want to share me with my sin, He doesn't want to share me with the world. But I don't feel that way. I want to share Him to the world... and if that means showing Him to one person, being that one sentence in someone's life, then I will do it. In Isaiah, God asks, "Who will I send?"
Will you let Him send you?
Will you take it into your own hands, or will you let it slip right through your fingers?
In Joel 3:21, the last verse of this short, but impacting, book, it says, "I will pardon My people's crimes which I have not yet pardoned; and I, the Lord, will make My home in Jerusalem with My people."
My study Bible points out that Joel started the book with complete destruction and ended it with complete peace. That got me thinking, wow, this is our journey, isn't it? It's hard and rough...we are hysterical, there are thick, black clouds of darkness and the stars stop shining. But as we call out to God, we find more peace. We find more protection. And once He is done allowing us to learn through the fire, He makes His home with us in our hearts.
Will you show someone that this is the God you serve? Will you show someone there is hope? My heart literally burns with a passion for this... it has been on my heart for the longest time. Will you burn with a fire for God and light someone else's candle? A candle that the cold world has put out?
Will you show someone who God really is, not what the world's blindfold makes Him look like?
Will you take it into your own hands?
Or will you let it slip right through?
Tick tock.
The book of Joel starts with complete and utter destruction. Literally. Locusts are swarming everywhere, people are hysterical, the people are (finally) calling out to God for help. There are thick, black clouds of darkness, the earth quakes and the stars stop shining.
And suddenly... God shows up. This is why it's one of my favorite books. In one sentence, the book changes.
Joel 2:12 - "That is why the Lord says, 'Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts.'"
Hope. That's what God is saying in short. "I love you. You messed up, but it's okay. There is still time. Come to me." And this is why it has been a burden on my heart: What if we're meant to be the one sentence in someone's life? Have you ever met someone and they say one thing to you and you never forget? What if we are called to be that person for the Kingdom's cause?
He's promising hope when in the next verse He says, "Return to the Lord, your God."
Here's where I'm going to challenge anyone reading this: who are you going to help? Who are you going to be one sentence to? Who are you going to help return to the Lord your God?
Down a little further in verse 22, God starts to talk about plants growing back, hinting at a little normalcy. But I don't think He is promising that kind of prosperity... He's is showing that when we go back to Him He will provide for us. He promises to give us what we need and He of all people knows that our deepest, most 'malnourished' (for lack of a better word) needs are spiritual.
I connect this to Joel 2:28 ... God says, "Then, after doing all those things, I will pour my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophecy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions."
After.
No rain, no rainbow. No destruction, no peace.
My pastor, Miriam, said a reference once that reminds me of this: she talked about how a miner takes a diamond in it's rawest form and literally puts it through fire until all of its impurities come up, then the miner wipes them off and does it again until he can see his reflection in the diamond.
God said after doing all those things... After putting you through the fire, after wiping the impurities from you, I will pour out my Spirit. After the rain, I will send a rainbow.
Will you show someone how to praise through the fire? Will you show someone that God does things with us in mind? Or is it too much effort. Is the grace of God too near and dear to your heart to share it?
No offense, I know God is a jealous lover for me. He doesn't want to share me with my sin, He doesn't want to share me with the world. But I don't feel that way. I want to share Him to the world... and if that means showing Him to one person, being that one sentence in someone's life, then I will do it. In Isaiah, God asks, "Who will I send?"
Will you let Him send you?
Will you take it into your own hands, or will you let it slip right through your fingers?
In Joel 3:21, the last verse of this short, but impacting, book, it says, "I will pardon My people's crimes which I have not yet pardoned; and I, the Lord, will make My home in Jerusalem with My people."
My study Bible points out that Joel started the book with complete destruction and ended it with complete peace. That got me thinking, wow, this is our journey, isn't it? It's hard and rough...we are hysterical, there are thick, black clouds of darkness and the stars stop shining. But as we call out to God, we find more peace. We find more protection. And once He is done allowing us to learn through the fire, He makes His home with us in our hearts.
Will you show someone that this is the God you serve? Will you show someone there is hope? My heart literally burns with a passion for this... it has been on my heart for the longest time. Will you burn with a fire for God and light someone else's candle? A candle that the cold world has put out?
Will you show someone who God really is, not what the world's blindfold makes Him look like?
Will you take it into your own hands?
Or will you let it slip right through?
Tick tock.
Monday, May 6, 2013
The Lord is my Shepherd ... BAAAAAAHHHH
I remember being in fifth grade in a private middle school and having to memorize Psalm 23 for religion class. Like John 3:16, Psalm 23 becomes a well known verse everyday, it is milked and repeated constantly, it is spoken at funerals and typically, I say it when I have to walk up my Pastors' scary steps to the attic.
It's a great chapter in the book of Psalms, but I have to think that we may have taken the life out of the first verse.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I have all I need."
I think that is the most underrated verses in the Bible.
Our circumstances change daily, but the Lord stays our shepherd. Our prayer and praise and worship should not change daily based on circumstance, based on life and what is happening, but they do. Why? Who gave us the bright idea that we should change how we speak to God when He hasn't changed at all? The Lord has been our shepherd since before we praised His name, and He will be long after we stop breathing.
I have all I need. I don't have enough money, I don't have enough bling on my neck or flowers on my table or enough cars in my driveway but I have my shepherd and therefore I have ALL I need.
My Pastor, Anthony, made a joke once about how it's funny we're always referred to as sheep... they're pretty dense animals.
Baaaaahhhh
But they're also very dependent on the one taking care of them. They are born and cradled, fed, and led by the shepherd and eventually trust him obediently, not out of habit but because 1) that's where the protection and nurturing is and 2) they are the exact opposite of self sufficient (can't find an antonym for it, bare with me) and are nothing without the shepherd. Had the shepherd not let and protected them, they would get lost and probably become prey for their enemies, who roam around seeking who they may devour. Yup, it's biblical, check it. 1 Peter 5:8.
And the thing is, this is a daily thing to be thankful about. WE change but HE doesn't.
Yeah but I don't feel like praying... The Lord who strengthens you is still your shepherd.
I got into a car accident and its gonna be so much money to fix it! ... The Lord who provides for you is still your shepherd.
But I've been going through a lot and then ____________ happened to me and _______ broke up with me and _________ walked out of my life and I lost my job and my parents don't get me and I've just not been feeling church lately.... The everlasting Lord your God who breaks chains, heals broken hearts, rains provision and answers prayers is STILL and always will be your shepherd.
Are you responding?
When a shepherd sees a member of the flock drifting he calls them. Our God, our shepherd, calls us by name when we drift away.
Are we ignoring Him? Are we responding to our shepherd? I've said this before, if you feel distant from God, guess who moved.
Psalm 23:1 is the most underrated verse I've ever read, I think. No matter where you are or who you were or what you'll do tomorrow, the shepherd is waiting for you to make your way to Him, and is relieved and overjoyed to learn He has not completely lost you.
BAAAH
It's a great chapter in the book of Psalms, but I have to think that we may have taken the life out of the first verse.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I have all I need."
I think that is the most underrated verses in the Bible.
Our circumstances change daily, but the Lord stays our shepherd. Our prayer and praise and worship should not change daily based on circumstance, based on life and what is happening, but they do. Why? Who gave us the bright idea that we should change how we speak to God when He hasn't changed at all? The Lord has been our shepherd since before we praised His name, and He will be long after we stop breathing.
I have all I need. I don't have enough money, I don't have enough bling on my neck or flowers on my table or enough cars in my driveway but I have my shepherd and therefore I have ALL I need.
My Pastor, Anthony, made a joke once about how it's funny we're always referred to as sheep... they're pretty dense animals.
Baaaaahhhh
But they're also very dependent on the one taking care of them. They are born and cradled, fed, and led by the shepherd and eventually trust him obediently, not out of habit but because 1) that's where the protection and nurturing is and 2) they are the exact opposite of self sufficient (can't find an antonym for it, bare with me) and are nothing without the shepherd. Had the shepherd not let and protected them, they would get lost and probably become prey for their enemies, who roam around seeking who they may devour. Yup, it's biblical, check it. 1 Peter 5:8.
And the thing is, this is a daily thing to be thankful about. WE change but HE doesn't.
Yeah but I don't feel like praying... The Lord who strengthens you is still your shepherd.
I got into a car accident and its gonna be so much money to fix it! ... The Lord who provides for you is still your shepherd.
But I've been going through a lot and then ____________ happened to me and _______ broke up with me and _________ walked out of my life and I lost my job and my parents don't get me and I've just not been feeling church lately.... The everlasting Lord your God who breaks chains, heals broken hearts, rains provision and answers prayers is STILL and always will be your shepherd.
Are you responding?
When a shepherd sees a member of the flock drifting he calls them. Our God, our shepherd, calls us by name when we drift away.
Are we ignoring Him? Are we responding to our shepherd? I've said this before, if you feel distant from God, guess who moved.
Psalm 23:1 is the most underrated verse I've ever read, I think. No matter where you are or who you were or what you'll do tomorrow, the shepherd is waiting for you to make your way to Him, and is relieved and overjoyed to learn He has not completely lost you.
BAAAH
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)