AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Friday – January 29, 2021, Sh’vat 16, 5781
GIFTS – PART SIXTY-FIVE
ARMOR OF GOD – PART SEVEN
Greetings and welcome to all who join this blog, the Friday Bible Study titled “Gifts”. I am currently dealing with the “Armor of God”. Please take a moment to share this teaching as widely as possible. Thank you for doing that, doing your part in the dissemination of the gospel. Those who are following this teaching week to week know that I am building a contextual (background) foundation. We make the best use of anything when we not only have knowledge of the thing, but an understanding, and are guided by Wisdom for its use. Many teachings on the “Armor of God” start right off, including mine in the past, talking about the various components. The Holy Spirit (our Master Teacher) has quickened me to not do that this time but lay a sound foundation.
Thus far in our study we have found that necessary components of the foundation for our efficient use of the armor includes obedience, honor, love (agape), thanksgiving, and proving the Word. I started to skip over the sins listed in the following text but the Holy Spirit prompted me to go back and discuss them one by one. This Book of Ephesians and this list of sins are for Christians to avoid and repent. I suspect most if not all of us look at this list and immediately declare that none of that applies to us. Really? Why is it in a Book to Christians? All sin is a violation of love (agape), love of God first, then love of our neighbor. Sin nullifies love, meditate verse two.
Ephesians 5:2 (AMP)
2 And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.
Now, let’s proceed with our discussion but first review our text. Yes, actually read it aloud again.
Ephesians 5:3-6 (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.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
For clarity, let’s take a look at this in the New Living Translation.
Ephesians 5:3-6 (NLT)
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.
4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.
Let’s take a look at covetousness in the KJV translated as greed in the NLT of Scripture. I think most of us know, it least intuitively, what greed is for we don’t use the word covet in our modern vernacular. Not coveting is one of the big ten, thou shalt nots.
Exodus 20:17 (KJV)
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Now, let’s look at a definition of the Bible word, covet. A verb meaning to take pleasure in, to desire, to lust, to covet, to be desirable, to desire passionately. The verb can mean to desire intensely even in its simple stem: the tenth commandment prohibits desiring to the point of coveting, such as a neighbor’s house, wife, or other assets according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament. In the New Testament this word, covetousness is associated with a love of money, to hoard away, and avarice. It is connected with extortioners (1 Cor. 5:10); with thefts (Mark 7:22), covetous thoughts, and plans of fraud and extortion according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament.
As we can see this word covet or greed is way more than noting that something of our neighbors is very good, it extends to activities to take it from our neighbor. Our neighbor is any other people in our life not just the people next door. I believe we can sum it up with the following familiar verse.
1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV)
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
God wants us to have money by the truck load but He wants us to love Him and others. To love Him is to focus on Him and others. When we are focused on money, on stuff, nothing but heartache awaits us. I will close with the following verse.
Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next week.
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/
