AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Friday – December 18, 2020, Tevet 3, 5781
GIFTS – PART FIFTY-NINE
THE ARMOR OF GOD – PART ONE
Greetings and welcome to all who join this Friday Bible Study titled “Gifts” focused starting this week on The Armor of God. Please take a moment and share this teaching as widely as possible to expand the reach of this Ministry teaching the Truth. The end of the year is upon us and we invite you to consider this Ministry as part of your year-end giving, joining yourself to this Ministry as a partner. The difference between a friend to this ministry and a partner with this Ministry is that a partner contributes financially. In that way we pray for you daily and you become a partaker of our Grace. If we are benefiting you on a spiritual level, you have an obligation to share with us in the carnal things.
1 Corinthians 9:11 (KJV)
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
Let’s take a look at this in two other translations. Be led of the Lord in this and in all things. See the Amplified translation.
1 Corinthians 9:11 (AMP)
11 If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?
Finally, see the New Living Translation.
1 Corinthians 9:11 (NLT)
11 Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?
12 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.
We are now one week out from Christmas and two weeks out from the New Year. Remember, that all of the responsibility for the success of these holidays does not fall to grandma or mamma. Each one of us have a role. Now we will turn our attention to the sixth chapter of Ephesians and the discussion of the Armor of God. Instead of jumping down to the twelfth verse I will start at the beginning of the chapter and even go back into chapter five to give context and the platform upon which the effective use of the armor rests.
Ephesians 6:1-3 (KJV)
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Do children have to use the armor of God? As they attain understanding this is critical. As they attain understanding God starts to hold them responsible for their thoughts, words, and actions. Obeying and honoring parents should be spoken prophetically by the parents even while the child is in the womb and beyond. Children of all ages must be taught this and allowed to reap the benefits of obedience and honor and the adverse consequences of disobedience and dishonor. We, the parents, must be careful to teach these things. What we see here in chapter six, is a theme carried over from chapter five. God through Paul is talking to us about obedience and honor, both are very unpopular in todays culture. The further the Church and subsequently the nation has gotten from God the more disobedience and dishonor has flourished. Now, let’s jump back into the fifth chapter of Ephesians and notice that the Apostle Paul by the unction of the Holy Spirit is talking to believers not the world.
Ephesians 5:1-2 (KJV)
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
A full chapter and half before talking about the spiritual armor of God we are being told to walk in love. This love (agape) is the God level of love which we have in our spirit man and must be developed. Our love walk will determine the effectiveness or even our ability to engage in spiritual warfare. Remember that love (agape) is the power of faith.
Galatians 5:6 (KJV)
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Love (agape) is obedience to the Scripture, a selfless lifestyle, and observance of Blood Covenant. I will break right here and pick up here next Friday Lord willing.
2 Chronicles 20:20b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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