AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Friday – January 15, 2021, Sh’vat 2, 5781
GIFTS – PART SIXTY-THREE
ARMOR OF GOD – PART FIVE
Greetings and welcome to all who join this blog, the Friday Bible Study titled “Gifts” and currently focused on the Armor of God. Please take a moment and share this teaching as widely as possible to expand the reach of this Ministry and the Truth. Let’s prepare to dive into our study of the Armor of God. This is a wonderfully encouraging and instructive teaching. We are not designed or provided for by God, as His children, to have defeat of any kind in our lives. This includes not only our finances and our bodies but every area of life. Wow, what a Father, what a Savior, what a Comforter! Each one of us has an obligation to think about this, examine the Scripture, and examine ourselves for the curse is running rampant in Christians lives. As you will recall I have not jumped right to the “Armor of God” Scriptures but we are taking our time to explore the context of those verses. We have started a list of what is required in our lives for the armor of God to work as designed. We found that obedience is essential, as is honor, walking in love (agape), being in an attitude of thanksgiving, and proving all the Word, all we believe.
Nothing just automatically works or manifests in the Kingdom of God. All things are available but are obtained by faith, love (agape), and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. For each of us salvation was available but we were not automatically saved, we had to appropriate it by faith into our lives. Just as in any natural company, or the military, there are policies and procedures. Follow them and have success, don’t follow them and experience failure. Same in the Kingdom of God. Yes, we may get to Heaven but never experiencing the provisions God freely makes available. Now, let’s review a part of the primary text for this study from the sixth chapter and then we will once again slide back to the fifth chapter.
Ephesians 6:12-13 (KJV)
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Whether we knew it before or whether we like it or not we are engaged in spiritual not physical warfare. Of course, it we were unaware we were lion bait, easy prey. Now, those days are to be no more. They are no more that is if we receive, believe, and implement the Word of God to defeat the wiles of the devil(s). The demons, our spiritual adversaries, enjoy and are gleeful concerning ignorance in our lives concerning spiritual things. In our ignorance they are able to operate with free abandon. We come to think that is just the way life is and after all we do end up in Heaven which is way better than Hell. Just like when the children of Israel entered the Promised Land, they had overwhelming victory after victory when they did things God’s way so will it be for us. If we have our own ideas, well prepare for disasters, and defeats. Remember this Book of Ephesians like the other sixty-five Books in the Bible is written to and for believers (Ephesians 1:1). Now let’s jump back to the 5th chapter of Ephesians.
Ephesians 5:3-5 (KJV)
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Last week I spent time on fornication for it is a much broader sin than physical sexual activity outside of marriage. Spiritual fornication is the turning aside from any of the Word of God to another word and is idolatry. It is the first of the Ten Commandments.
Exodus 20:3 (KJV)
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Let us not be children of disobedience but loving children imitating our Father.
Colossians 3:5-6 (KJV)
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Many of the words in our text (Ephesians 5) and the Colossians text above are not commonly used today but the thoughts, the acts are very much present. As we study this we must look inward and to God to recognize any of these things going on in our lives. If and when found, confess it immediately to the Lord, ask for and receive forgiveness and His cleansing Blood, quit doing it and move on.
I will pick up with ‘uncleanness’ next Friday, Lord willing.
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (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
PRAYERS AND QUESTIONS – please, anytime you have an issue that you want me, this ministry to pray for you, a person you love or a situation contact me. Accordingly, if you should have a question about the Bible, please do not hesitate to ask it.
PARTNERSHIP AND GIVING – Those of you who are not Partners of this Ministry and you find this ministry to be of value to you and perhaps others with whom you share it, we ask you to consider becoming Partners. A Partner is one who prays for the Ministry on a regular basis and contributes to the Ministry on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, annually). Thank you and may the Lord be pleased with your decision.
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
BLOG: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/awakearisetriumphministries
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PastorDavidWood
MAILING ADDRESS: 10 Village Green Circle, Oakland, Maine 04963
MY BOOKS: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org/shop/
