What Armor? Feb.29

 

When you view any military movie, sci-fi tv, or most any battle you will see how different protective measures are shown to insulate the combatant. [suits of armor from head to toe].

You know what? It appears to be Biblical.

The Apostle Paul uses such imagery in Eph. 6:10-19 to illustrate God’s protective shielding that humans can do. Of course, he emphasizes we fight against other kinds of enemies [principalities and powers] which means we are to use our God-given unseen forces as well. The word is significant that we are to use ALL of the protectors to enhance the Holy Spirit’s energy within.

In the days ahead, let’s view all the armor intended.

The first is a belt. Today there are substitutes, like drawstrings, but for true stability, a belt is needed for firmness. A belt is to hold up the waist protection and represents God’s truth. Clothes with belts cover vital body parts. Truth should cover our guts. In Bible days, some believed our emotions resided in the lower gut channels.

 

Why An Armor of God? Feb. 28

 

So, with Jesus’s example through the temptations, he shows life DOES matter how we get to the end result. The means we use to get to an end must align with the heavenly Father’s words. All attempts should lead to John 13: 34. The eternal foundation is John 14:6.

What is one important road, set of principles, proven method we can embrace to become more than sneaky methods to obtain even legitimate goals?

Our next adventure is to look at what was meant by a whole armor of God Eph. 6: 10-19. This review by the Apostle shows a combination of the core of what Jesus meant by a new commandment.

Follow with me for a new armor, one even better than any cybernetic shield or high tech protection.

One More Recorded Try Feb.27

 

Again “Satan takes Jesus up to an exceedingly high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory…” Mt.4:8. The tempter continued with a promise he says he can keep…” I will give you all this if you will bow down and worship me…”

First, this is a lie because since Jesus came and the heavenly Father gave him ALL power, Satan no longer has the power to do what he promised. He may think he has, but He does not.

Second, he uses ‘ends/means tactic again’…If you’ll do X I’ll do Y.

Certainly, the promise sounds tempting because then Jesus could accomplish his mission sooner and without such painful experience. But then, Sin would not have been paid for and THAT is Satan’s goal.

So, the answer comes again, “Go away Satan. The scripture says, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” [Mt.4:10]

**Then the devil left him, and angels ministered to Jesus.

The Tempter tries the same technique on us. He always tries to tempt the Jesus in us. Satan wants us to take his lying short cuts to destinations.

“Just do this little thing because the result is worth it. No one cares anymore.” [tempting lie]

Remember: Waist=truth; shod feet=Gospel; Shield=Faith; Helmet=Salvation; Sword=Spirit; then pray for all people. [Eph.6:10-19.]

Another False persuasion Feb.26

 

Satan takes Jesus to the holy city of Jerusalem to the top of the temple [ Mt. 4:5-6]. The Tempter changes emphasis by appealing to Jesus’ national heritage, and the Son of God’s operational efforts. And remember, the temple is where God is supposed to live according to the Jewish national belief.

“If you are the Son of God…jump! Scripture says he will put his angels in charge of you. They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock. “[NEV, Mt.4:6]

First, Satan subtly choses the top of temple to suggest the Son is higher than the heavenly Father. A lie but then, he states a truth from scripture [Ps. 91:11-12] “the angels will protect”, another disguise to confuse, misdirect but appear truth bound.

Jesus responds with true fact. “It is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God.” [ Mt. 4:7, based on Deut. 6:16]

So, what is the real truth in Mt. 4 [ No tempting by God like in James 1: 13], and John 13:34 Jesus says he gives a new idea].

Satan always misdirects the truth, even when shrouded with what appears to be right. His essence is not love but death to life. Evil remains a liar constantly. It cannot help itself. It wants to die and promote that is all there is.

Jesus keeps affirming that He is truth and truth still has a built-in reality in this world made by the heavenly father.

We struggle but not without help and hope. [ Use Eph. 6: 10-19].

A Sneaky Reason Feb.24

 

Right before the famous Sermon of Mount in Mt. 5, Jesus embarks on a strange but significant journey in Mt.4:1-11. He gets led into the wilderness by the Spirit. He gets led into the wilderness by the Spirit and fasts for 40 days and nights and is hungry. And if that isn’t bad enough, he gets tempted by the devil.

 For spiritual reasons, in my younger days, I lived on orange juice and water for 28 days. I can’t imagine 40 days with nothing. We just have to trust in the workings of the Spirit with Jesus.

After the hunger time, the tempter visits Jesus and says, [and I paraphrase] “Hey, if you are really the son of God you have the power why not command these stones you see into bread. No one is looking. You need it. You can do it. I’d be ok for this little thing. You deserve it.”

On this occasion, the devil tempts the human body and uses the method of an end-means inversion technique. In other words, the end you seek is necessary and justifies the means, the way you get there. Even if the means and method is a little sneaky, it’s ok because the end result is absolutely needed.

Jesus must have groaned but said, “It is written, not on bread only shall a man live, but by every word proceeding out of the mouth of God.” [Mt.4: 4].

“Oh, I’ll sneak two doughnuts in the sack and only pay for one. They have So many anyway.”

Bam! Nope! To interpret a method of behavior on the slightest dark side of activity as ok does not get justified by the bright side of the end result.

Man…I sure would like a new car. Feb. 23

 

We have to admit we live in a day of consumer atmosphere. Just about everywhere we turn, someone or some thing wants to sell us something, like a better way of life. We are in America after all! And while the atmosphere still has many plus moments, there are masked occasions that turn our compulsion buttons.

Temptations are so accepted these days. We are tempted to buy a new car, to change our clothes style, to benefit our health by changing our bodies, to hire the right lawyer, to go to the right church. The list bombards us to the degree that we all seem to accept the offers as part of a happy life.

But there are soft and subtle temptations that hurt. Some are obvious; others are so faint they get overlooked. The next few days, the focus of the devotionals will center on those methods of temptation that sneak in to confuse our impulses, that twist and obliterate an honest lifestyle that we as Christ believers try to follow.

The discussions will be based on the Biblical records of Jesus experiencing the 3 temptations [ Mt. 4:1-11; Mk. 1:12-13 -–a short word mentioned only; then Lk. 4: 1-13] we have on record. And while there were many more not recorded, we can learn a great deal from the three.

Why is this important today? Because we have to up our alertness factor, pay more attention to avoid culture values trying to redefine our Christian value system.

No Editing Needed Feb.22

 

When Jesus finished his Lord’s Prayer of Mt.6: 13-14 the [“…forever: Amen.”] a huge significant word gets embedded in our universe.

 It is the word FOREVER. This is an immeasurable amount of a particular quality of time. This is not linear time, like just one thing after another as we know, time that has a beginning and ending. The closest description of forever time is like what the wind does; the wind just appears from any direction whenever; however, it wants.

Forever suggests a form of time we just do not understand because it has no specific place, limit, or ending and God moves in it as Himself. He never has to wait like we do. His story, his glory, his existence always is and will remain to grow even after linear time ends.

As Jesus shares the forever time with us, we have to step back and let him direct the known and the unknown and he will always have our backs.

Amen.  No argument. A divine Yes. Let it be!