AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Friday – January 1, 2021, Tevet 17, 5781
GIFTS – PART SIXTY-ONE
ARMOR OF GOD – PART THREE
HAPPY NEW YEAR
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. Now, let us prepare to dive into our study of these gifts from God referred to as the Armor of God. Well, the year 2020 is spent, did we spend it well? Did we allow COVID-19 to steal our joy? Did we look at how to show the goodness of God (Glory) to others through our lives? Did we seek to promote and expand the Kingdom of God even in the presence of a pestilence? Please do not blow off or ignore the Virtual Wednesday Night Bible Study at 6 pm eastern time on Zoom. You will need to contact me for the meeting id and the password. It has been a very powerful time. Come expecting to minister and be ministered too. The Lord is showing us things to move forward, and to subsequently move the Kingdom forward. There is no such thing as arriving or becoming static in the Kingdom. We will be learning and growing throughout eternity. To be static or to stay in one place is to backslide. To remain static means that we are not studying to change our thoughts, our words, and our doing which is sin. Failing to study leads to increasing darkness.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
You probably already noticed this is a command. How many in the body of Christ study the Word of God? I do not know the full answer, but what about me, what about you? Studying the Word of God is not reading one or more chapters in the Bible a certain number of days a week and going to Sunday morning service. Studying the Word of God involves (but not limited too) determining context, ascertaining who is talking, who they are talking too, and what does this require of me. Of course, there are many more parts to effectively studying the Word of God. We study to be transformed day by day into the image of God, we are to be conformed to the image Christ.
Romans 8:29 (KJV)
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Now, let’s pivot to our topic of the “Armor of God”. We have started our study of this topic by looking at the context in which we are told about spiritual warfare. Thus far we saw that obedience, honor, and walking in love (agape) are involved. Let’s move forward in chapter 5 of Ephesians. Remember the Apostle Paul is talking to believers (see the December 18, 2020 teaching).
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.
One might say; oh, Dr. Wood, certainly he is talking to sinners. Yes, he is talking to saints that sin, he is talking to us, God through him is talking to us. It would be well worth your time to examine each of these words to see how they apply rather than jumping to the conclusion that these things are not present in our Church nor in any of us. What consumes our attention, our time, and our treasure? Do we give thanks on purpose throughout the day? I don’t care what your situation, there are always a multitude of things for us to thank God for. So, we can add thankfulness to our list of obedience, honor, and love (agape) in order for the Armor of God to be used effectively. Let’s move forward.
Ephesians 5:6-10 (KJV)
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
I don’t think anyone sets out to be deceived, however we have to much of a tendency to swallow the things we hear hook line and sinker. We are to test all things. The Church is full of wrong doctrines that are without power and perpetuate the curse in our lives. Let us be good Berean’s and be sure there is in context Scripture for all that we believe.
Acts 17:11 (KJV)
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
So, the underpinning thus far for us to engage in successful spiritual warfare includes: obedience, honor, love (agape), thankfulness, and now proving what we believe.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next week and again, Happy New Year! It is our choice if the year is happy or not.
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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