AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Friday – January 22, 2021, Sh’vat 9, 5781
GIFTS – PART SIXTY-FOUR
ARMOR OF GOD – PART SIX
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. This study of the Armor of God 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 our life. This is not only possible and fully provided for but commanded of God. Wow, what a Father, what a Savior, what a Comforter! We have an obligation to think about this, examine the Scripture, and examine ourselves, for the curse is running rampant in Christians lives. Don’t ever forget, we are redeemed from the curse! As you will recall I have not jumped right to the “Armor of God” Scriptures for we are taking the 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 (Scripture, parents) is essential, as is honor (the placing of great value upon, for example parents), walking in love (agape), being in a perpetual attitude of thanksgiving, and proving all the Word, all we believe. Now let’s look at our primary text then we will once again jump back to the 5th 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.
People are not our problem, not our primary problem. That is not to say that we don’t have to deal with people but our primary authority and battle (wrestling) is in the spiritual realm. Except as perhaps conveyed by being a parent or a boss we do not have control over and neither are we to attempt to control other people. On the other hand, we have complete, total control, over the evil spirits that come against us day and night. When they are made quiet then our people problems also improve. Now, to Ephesians chapter five.
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.
This Book of Ephesians is written to Christians, believers, therefore none of us should discard the preceding passage out of hand. We discovered yesterday (Colossians 3:5-6) that many of these sins can be placed under the sin of idolatry. I certainly hope that everyone reading this understands that placing a thing, a person, or activity ahead of God is idolatry. Idolatry is big league sin in the eyes of God (all sin put Jesus on the Cross). In the preceding passage we find the word ‘uncleanness’ which is not a word we use today but I think we all have a sense of what is being said. This of course would apply in the physical and spiritual realm. Let’s take a moment and look at a list of synonyms for this word uncleanness. They include a defilement, dirt, filth, obscenity, impurity, moral defilement, a soiling, defilement, lasciviousness, wantonness, contamination, uncleanness, foulness, pollution, stain, blemish defect, spot, stigma, mark, or scar according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament. I think you can see that uncleanness can manifest in the physical and spiritual. Generally speaking, spiritual perversions (variance from the Word of God) will manifest in the natural.
I am now going to step back for a moment and give some further insight into these sins which are to be eliminated from our lives. I have taught many times how it can be very useful to look at the gender and number of the words in whatever text we are studying. All of the sins listed in our text and all of the pieces of spiritual armor are feminine singular. Being feminine tells us right away that this thing has reproductive capacity of like kind. Each sin, each piece of the armor of God will reproduce after its kind in our lives, one for evil and one for good. Sin produces the fruit of stealing, killing, and destruction. Righteousness produces abundance of fruit after its kind, life and peace. There are no duds in the spirit realm, recognized or not we are all bearing fruit. Is it the fruits of righteousness or unrighteousness?
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next Friday.
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
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