"By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth."
Psalm 33:6
_____________________________________________________________
FAITH: THE MASTER KEY TO MATURITY
When I was a child, my parents trained me in my morning routine: get up when the alarm goes off! Then brush my teeth, get dressed, feed the dog, eat breakfast, make my bed, and make my lunch before launching out into the unknown world of going to school.
After my second birth, My Heavenly Father and anointed teachers began to train me in spiritual matters.
THE PRIVILEGE OF PRIVATE MOMENTS
Putting God’s Word first place in my life began many years ago with a morning routine of seeking Him in the scriptures before launching out into my busy world.
Reading, studying, prayer, and fellowship with the Lord was and is a necessary discipline that gives me life, peace, and a joy not easily expressed. Most often it is the most cherished part of my day because of the One who joins me there.
“MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.” Matthew 4:4
The outward man depends on eating nutritious food every day, but that will not satisfy the spirit man. The well-being of my spirit is solely dependent on nourishment that can only be found in God’s Word because it’s Spirit to spirit.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
God’s Word is seed that produces life. Mark 4:14
It has the power within itself to sanctify and cleanse us from wrong thinking because it is truth. Ephesians 5:26 Wrong thinking can get down into your core beliefs and cause you to make wrong decisions that produce nasty consequences.
Rebellion can be stubborn about being corrected.
Several years ago I had a conversation with a friend. She began to tell me of the freedom she was feeling since she learned she didn’t have to be in bondage to studying the Bible every morning. Two years later she suffered a horrific tragedy because of some very bad decisions she had made.
“Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
When I was my father’s son,
Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you.
”Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:1-7
END DAYS CHURCH: HAVE FAITH IN GOD! Mark 11:22
Have constant, continual faith in God. Why? Because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16
And faith is the requirement to having boldness and authority.
“This is the victory that overcomes the world—even our faith.” 1 John 5:4
If faith is what overcomes the devil’s playground, don’t you think he will do whatever he can to deceive, hinder, and steal faith? Well of course! Faith is the prize of heaven given to every believer to walk an overcoming life of grace that manifests the joys of answered prayer. Your enemy hates faith and wants to kill it! Be vigilant and on the alert. 1 Peter 5:8
Believers, who are not in God’s Word, will not be aware of when the spirit of error speaks. Why? Because God’s Word is the discerner of truth and error.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons …” 1 Timothy 4:1
Anti-Christ, Anti-Word, Anti-Faith, Anti-Unity
Be on guard about what you listen to or thoughts that accuse the brethren.
The Whole Armor of God
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-19
Whose armor is it?
It is God’s armor made to fit you.
Who puts it on?
You do. God will not do this for you.
What exactly is God’s armor?
It is God the Word. John 1:1
God is light. Romans 13:12 & 1 John 1:5
Why should we put it on?
To stand against the wiles, lies, and strategies of the devil.
OUR HELPER
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 2 Corinthians 10:3
For greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4
Rely on the strength of the Holy Spirit to lead and direct you into victory.
Do you remember when David approached Saul, King of Israel, and told him he would go and fight Goliath the giant? Not surprisingly, Saul looked at the natural realm and then decided to clothe David with his own armor.
“I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.
“Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:39-40
David's Armor
David’s courage, strength, and strategy were not coming from the natural “seen” world but from the supernatural realm. In the natural, no stone could penetrate the head of a giant and cause him to fall face down on the ground. There was much more going on here that was not visible.
The armor of God that we are clothed with is far superior to the enemy’s schemes.
ABOVE ALL: TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH
The kingdom of darkness is directly opposed to people who walk by faith. This is why the scripture says we are to “Fight the good fight of faith.” When in operation, faith is the shield that is able to extinguish, or quench, every fiery dart of the enemy.
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE—1 Corinthians 13:13
The greatest of these is love. Why?
Faith and hope work through love. Galatians 5:6 & Romans 5:5
____________________________________________
MAN’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:14 & 17-20.
THE BALL’S IN YOUR COURT
Jesus taught us about the wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built his house on the sand. Both men heard the word of God.
Only the man who did what he heard was victorious. See Matthew 7:24-29.
Choose to live God’s Word, dear Saints, for it holds your good life.
When my friend made the decision to be free from daily study, she could not have imagined the awful tragedy the enemy had planned ahead of her.
“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:15
______________________________________________
Suggested Assignment:
Read Hebrews Chapter 3 & 4 this week.
PRAYING FOR REVIVAL IN OUR STATES
The Glorious Church
The Lost
Elected Leaders
Copyright © 2013 – 2014 Prayer with Purpose; prayerwithpurpose.org