At our church service we were asked to contemplate the question Paull raised in 1 Corinthians 12:29-30.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
I know what I think my answer to this question is, but I want to answer it with scripture and not my own flawed opinions or knowledge. The first thing one must do to answer the question is to put it back into context. 1 Corinthians 12 talks about the gifts of the Spirit and about the body of Christ. Looking at verses 12-26 which immediately precede the question, we see that we are all members of the body and like the body, not everyone can be the mouth or the head or the foot. That is why we have a variety of gifts, we all have a purpose in the body. There is someone at your church gifted at teaching, someone else gifted at pastoring, and someone different gifted at prophecy, healing, and administration. We need the variety of gifts. So, no not all are apostles, prophets teachers, healers etc. But, is this the end of it? No, there is more to consider.
Regarding the gifts, in verses 4-11 Paul says,
 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
This passage says that to one this is given to another this is given. Paul also says, “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” This implies that not everyone has every gift. But what the Spirit really called to my attention in this section was verse 6, “and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.”
You see God in the Holy Spirit gives these gifts to each one as He wills, the same Spirit empowers them all in everyone. This is not a contradiction, He gives as He wills and He gives to everyone. He is able to do as He wills or chooses. God gives good gifts to His children who ask Him. (Matthew 7:11) and whatever we ask for in His name or in agreeance with one another and with faith we will receive (Matthew 18:19, Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:24, John 15:7, John 15:16, and more). So just as God wills that all are saved, the scriptures infer that God wants to give everyone gifts and blessings.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:31 just after he poses the question, “But earnestly desire the higher gifts.”
What this means to me is that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to everyone, but we can ask for more, we can ask for all of them. Do all? No. Can all if we ask? Yes. Will He give those gifts to us when we ask? The answer is yes but with qualifiers. Yes, He gives whatever we ask Him for in His name, that is as His representative. He gives when we ask in agreeance with other saints, we would not agree for something evil. And He gives when we ask with faith. James explains this in James 1:5-6 when he talks about asking for the gift of wisdom,
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
This passage has given many a charlatan reason to explain why people are not healed by him or why people did not get the new Lexus they asked for. But what James is saying is that if you ask for wisdom (or some other gift) you must ask with faith because otherwise you would not listen to God for the wisdom or use the gift you asked for because you don’t really believe He gave it to you. You are double minded therefore hoping He gave it but not trusting He did. You would wait for some miracle to happen and empower you in a shimmering shower of gold or a gust of wind to hit you and make you suddenly sprout wise sayings or tongues or lightning to shoot from your hands and cause healings all around you. Without that faithful assurance, you will follow whatever speaker, teacher, or pastor gives you some teaching that tells you the steps you have to take to have the gifts that the Bible says God has already given you. With faith, you ask and then, knowing God gave you the gift, you use it. You listen for the wisdom, the word, or the knowledge. You step out in faith and declare healing or miracles in Jesus’ name.  
God would not tell you to desire the higher gifts if He were not going to give them to you when you ask. He would not tell us to ask for them if He were not going to give them to us. Perhaps, you have asked for a gift and have not seen it manifested. Maybe it isn’t time yet for you to get it. Maybe you need to take a step or two first. One thing many of us don’t consider doing is having the gift ignited by prayer and laying on of hands from elders or others already anointed and using the gift. In 2 Timothy 1:5-7 Paul reminds Timothy to do this. He says,
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Paul knew Timothy had faith, that was not the issue, He wanted the elders of the church to lay their hands on Timothy and fan into flame the gift of God that was in him. How was the gift in Timothy? Paul had laid his hands on Timothy when he prayed for the Holy Spirit to indwell him. He reminded Timothy that we have a spirit of self-control, not fear. We can choose through our self-control to practice these gifts or we can choose to let fear rule us and not practice them in case we do not have the gift.
If God wants someone healed, He will heal Him through you or the guy next to you or the woman who meets the person next. He is the same Holy Spirit in you, your pastor, the person famous for his healing gift, and the person in your church who is gifted with it. He is the same Spirit in you as the person gifted with prophecy or knowledge or teaching. in your body. The same Holy Spirit who indwelled and empowered Paul, Peter, John, and James indwells you, Believer.
We must also practice the gifts we were given. We cannot and should not let them sit unused within us. That does no one any good, not us and not the people learning from us or watching us. In 1 Timothy 4:14-16 Paul said,
Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Earlier in the letter Paul in 4:7-8 Paul told Timothy  “Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” Encouraging him that just as we train our physical bodies we should train our spirits as well.
Let’s go back to Paul’s question now, “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” No, all are not, but it could be that way. We can operate in all the gifts, if we ask with faith, if we declare this in front of the body and let the elders lay hands on us to impart the anointing and fan the gift into flame, if in faith we step up and practice and use the gifts, knowing it is the Holy Spirit, not us who is wise, healing, miracle working, speaking, encouraging, and loving. We must remember too that Paul went on from that question to tell us the better way, the way of love. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that without love, none of the amazing things we do is worth anything. If we do these great things without love we are nothing and gain nothing. These gifts, our faith and our hope are all part of this temporary earth. Prophecies will one day be in the past. There will be no need of healing or encouragement because we will be living in perfect unity with Jesus Christ in New Jerusalem on the New Earth forever. God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain. Earth and all its brokenness and sin will have passed away (Revelation 21:4)

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Today’s Bible devotional is a reprint from August 30th 2015
What does loving one another look like? What should the body of Christ look like? I would venture to say the body of Christ should look like Jesus. Our traits as individuals and as a whole should be conformed to His image. His Holy Spirit in us should be evident and fully functioning among us. Our love should be apparent. And we shouldn’t resemble the world.
The world doesn’t like to submit to authority or recognize the people who work so hard behind the scenes. They want to show up to a church without being part of the church. They want to be served and not serve themselves. They expect the pastor to give them a nice little message, listen to their whining, give them what they need, and then ignore them for the next 6 days. But the people who do that, though they may come to church are not of the church they are still of the world. There is no unity with the body. Verses 12-13 read,
“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.”
Paul urges us to respect the people who work among us. We are to regard their work, note it, and give the workers reverence. There shouldn’t be anyone whose work is going unappreciated, but too often there is. Too often the person who cleans the meeting place, who opens her home for fellowship, or who makes the calls to the visitors and absent are overlooked. But when everyone in the church is serving, then most of us will remember to appreciate all the others, and the burden on everyone is lightened. We are all expected to serve. Our gifts were given to us for a reason. Ephesians 4:11-16 says it like this,
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
We are also to give deference to those who are over us, submitting to their wisdom, maturity, and leadership as they guide us toward completion. Hebrews 13:17 says,
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
In submitting to, respecting, and esteeming one another and the contributions each of us makes to the body, we have peace among us. We don’t need to be jealous, envious, or disrespectful of each other. We are in it together, sharing the same Spirit and the same mission. We want the best for each other. We are family, we are interwoven together, each thread is needed and adds to the beauty of the tapestry.
We cannot in love, let someone waste their gifts or remain a new born who never experiences the fullness of Christ during this life. Verse 14-15 puts it this way,
“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”
Our unified walk as the body of Christ does not stop at the church doors. We are good to one another, but we also must be good to the world. We should be beneficent, that is intentionally doing good in a concrete way. We deliberately ensure we are not being maleficent, which is to cause harm. Nonmaleficence should be just as premeditated as beneficence.
Hebrews 13:15-16 reads,
“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
It is an act of worship and praise to be charitable and kind. It is glorifying Christ, which is reflecting Jesus, being like Jesus to do good for people. Verses 16-18 say,
“Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
When do we rejoice? When do we pray? When do we thank God and what do we thank Him for? Always, continually, and all the time, for everything. The Holy Spirit wants to shine through us. He wants to glorify Jesus in us. He wants to fill us to overflowing and show us He can’t be exhausted. Verses 19-22 read,
“Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.”
He cannot be exhausted, but He can be quenched, that is stifled, smothered, and left to smolder instead of burn bright. How do we do that? We do it by not rejoicing, praying, and thanking God. We do it by not recognizing that our circumstances have the purpose of conforming us to the image of Christ. (Romans 8:26-30). We stifle the Holy Spirit of God when we disregard His work, or we accept all works that might be from God are and do not discern Godly from worldly. (1 John 4:1-6). We douse His fire in us when we take part in the desires of the flesh instead of the desires of The Spirit.
The muffled and subdued Spirit will not produce the fruit that makes it evident we are sons and daughters of Abba God. Galatians 5:16-26 reads,
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
The fruit of The Spirit is the image of Christ. As we walk, we become more and more mature, showing more and more the character of Jesus. One day we will be instantly perfected but that doesn’t mean we do not strive toward that goal now. (1 Corinthians 15:51-52, Philippians 3:12-14). We trust the Lord to complete us and keep us. Verses 23-24 read,
“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”
God does this great work in us. He perfects us. He doesn’t and won’t do it against our will. We have to be in a relationship with Him. We have to want it. And so we pray, we love, we walk, and we strive, not in a futile struggle, but in the peaceful rest of Jesus’ grace. Verses 25-28 close the letter.
“Brothers, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”
​

​Esther 10
We were saved for a reason. We’ve have been placed where we are, given our position and gifts for a purpose. Esther was elevated to the position of queen in order to save the Jewish people from Haman’s evil schemes. Her position gave Mordecai the unique opportunity to affect the king’s life and save the lives of countless individuals. The Lord gave Mordecai important messages that had to be told. He told him about the plot to kill King Ahasuerus and the Haman’s scheme to kill the Jews. He showed Mordecai what to do and who to tell and all Mordecai had to do was courageously obey. When Mordecai told Esther about those plots, he trusted God that she would act in obedience as well. He trusted the Lord that The Lord would tell Esther how to move and what to do. When God saved us, He put us in places and made us able to speak to the people He placed in our lives and affect their lives too. He gave us the chance to be heros.
When Mordecai spoke to save Ahasuerus’ life, he didn’t do so to get a reward. He did it because it was the right thing to do and because The Lord put him in a place where he could. In fact, at first he didn’t get a reward. His act was recorded in the king’s chronicle. But Mordecai did receive his reward eventually. That first heroic act eventually led to Mordecai’s elevation in Ahasuerus’ kingdom to a place where he would have even greater influence over the lives of many people. Let’s finish reading the book of Esther today. Verses 1-3 (The entire 10th chapter) reads,
King Ahasuerus imposed tax on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. 2 And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.
Mordecai was second in the kingdom, his power and influence was immense. Like Joseph before him, Mordecai used his status for good. He is remembered as a great hero. You and I, Believer were also give a place in a kingdom, the greatest kingdom that ever existed, the kingdom of Heaven. We were elevated, made royalty, and given authority to take advantage of that position for the welfare of the multitudes. We were placed here for such a time as this and it is our choice to make use of the opportunities we’re given to save lives or to sit back and let someone else have the honor of being God’s hero. In Esther 4:14 Mordecai told Esther,
“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
We can keep silent, we can watch as people die in slavery to Satan or we can rise up and be the instrument of their salvation and lead them to Jesus Christ. You are not ignorant of the devil’s plots (2 Corinthians 2:11). You have the message they so desperately need to hear. You have the Word inside you. Colossians 3:14-17 says,
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
You are equipped with ability to be the hero God has made you to be. Romans 10:13-17 reads,
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
We can be heroes! We are meant to be heroes. We have gifts from God to be used for both the common good and the building up of the church (1 Corinthians 12:7, Ephesians 4:12). We have been given the armor to carry out God’s commission for us as well. Ephesians 6:10-20 reads,
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak
We are extraordinary; we are unlike the world around us! We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s very own (1 Peter 2:9) and because of that we have the responsibility to carry out heroic commission and bring people to the salvation of Jesus Christ, our King, our High Priest, our Savior. We can do so, not through harshness, judgement, and disputes but in love, with love, and through love, the love of God. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 reads,
 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Beloved Believer, you are meant to be a hero! God gave you a new identity, a commission, a position, gifts, and a message. Be the hero He has called you to be. If you don’t do it, someone else will. Someone else will receive the crown you might have received. Someone else will live in closeness with The Lord, the way you could have. Someone else will enjoy the abundant life you should have.

​Lately, I have been deeply impressed with the goodness of God. When I was a child, we said “grace” before we ate, our prayer was a little poem that went,
“God is good, God is great.
Let us thank Him for this food.
Amen”
 
I know that some people say the entire blessing which says,
 
“God is Great, God is Good;
Let us thank Him for our food.
By His hands we all are fed,
Give us Lord our Daily Bread.
Amen.”
As a child, I thought that good and great were synonyms and that we were cheering for God. As I matured I understood we were praising Him with His attributes and attitudes toward us. This child’s prayer is a thank you to The Lord, a way for us to give God thanks and say we have what we have because He is good (blameless, beneficent, and delightful), and because He is great (huge, powerful, majestic, and absolute).
The Bible tells us that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8 tells us,
 
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
God’s goodness is multifaceted, and it results in our blessings (happiness). He is not alright, He is all right. He is perfect Let’s look at some of the faces of God’s goodness.
He is beneficent, which is to say He is benevolent and helps us. He is good and so He does good for us. Psalm 34:4-7 reads,
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.”
He answers our prayers. He delivers us from danger and the enemy. He surrounds us with His protection. He holds us in His strong hands. Jesus describes Himself as the good shepherd and gives us more aspects of His goodness in John 10:9-18
“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Jesus is our salvation and the only way to salvation. He took it the effort out of our incapable hands and gives salvation to us freely. He gives us life, not just meager existence, but abundant life. He gives us a relationship with God. We know Him and He knows us! He brought salvation, not only for Israel but for the world. He willingly gave up His life so we could have all that. And He raised from the dead and conquered sin and death forever! That is good! That is wonderful!
He could do that because He is good. He is righteous, perfect and blameless. (Psalm 92:15). But He loves us so much that in order to make a way for us to be reconciled to Him, Jesus, our God took sin on Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 describes it this way,
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Try to imagine it. Imagine that sin is manure. Imagine you are wearing a beautiful white Armani tuxedo or gorgeous white Vera Wang wedding dress. Now imagine walking out into the pig pen where the manure comes up to your knees. Now picture laying down in it and rolling around until every centimeter of your perfect white clothing is thick with dung, every millimeter of your skin and hair is covered, your ears, nose, and bellybutton are filled with filth. Jesus did that for us, not with manure which can be washed off with soap and long shower, but with sin which can only be atoned for with blood. (Leviticus 17:11).
God is good, all the time! God is enjoyable! He is delightful. He is perfectly good and He will not change. He loves to give us good gifts. He loves to bless us. James 1:17-18 reads,
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
All we have to do is ask with the right motivation and our Lord generously gives to us. (James 4:2-3, James 1:5). If you want something which will harm you, He won’t give it. But He will give you what will benefit you and others. In Matthew 7:7-11 Jesus promises,
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
God is so good! Consider today the many ways that He is good. Consider the wonderful ways He is good to you. We only covered a few, I know you can think of more. He comforts, gives peace, joy, and faith. He carries you through. He has great purposes for you. He transforms you. He gives eternal life. He saves. He protects. He is Justice, Love, and Holy. How is He good to you?  Turn around and praise Him for His goodness. Thank The Lord for His goodness.

James 4

What do you want more than anything else? Chances are, if you’re like me you can answer that question in a number of ways at different times. There have been times I could give you a list of items I wanted. As I’ve matured in Christ the list is not a list of things, it is a list of spiritual gifts, traits and sometimes things. Several times yesterday I had discussions with people about the ability to speak foreign languages. It is a gift I want very much. I also need a new chair, since my recliner is broken. And then there is the longing for a husband and child. None of these things is wrong to want. It is in how badly I want them, why I want them, and even the manner I might go about in getting them that may make them wrong.

I have at different times let my longing for a family take priority in my heart. I have been covetous of other people’s joy that they could fall in love, get married, and have children. And I have let the grief over not having love fill me. Maybe for you it is children, a better home, a certain lifestyle, or the latest tech gadget. None of those things is wrong, but they also show a discontentedness with Jesus. Those longings can move us away from our pursuit of the Kingdom of Heaven and divide us from our brothers and sisters in Christ. Verses 1-5 read,

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 

God isn’t sitting up in Heaven keeping your desires from you and laughing about it. He wants you to have the desires of your heart. He loves to give His children good gifts. (Matthew 7:11). But they have to be good, good for us and good for others. Psalm 37:3-5 reads,

“Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.”

Trusting in The Lord, befriending faithfulness, and delighting yourself in the Lord present a picture of contentedness and faithfulness. This is not an image of a person who wants what she doesn’t have a person who wants her neighbor’s donkey and her sister’s car. It is a picture of a person who trusts God and is satisfied in Him, who longs to please Him and takes joy in Him.

Do you get how much your Father in Heaven loves you? His love is immense, it is bigger and better than our words can describe. It brings us to our knees in grateful worship and humility. We don’t deserve that kind of love but He loves us with a pure and unadulterated love. Even though our love toward Him is often selfish, sullied, and ungrateful. Even though sometimes we only give Him five seconds in the morning to say good morning and help me have a good day, His love for us doesn’t change. Our love is reactionary, His love is perfect huge, and steadfast. Ephesians 3:14-21 reads,

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family[c] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

A Father that loves us so much wants the best for us. And the best is that we mature to the image of Christ, perfect loving, awesome Jesus. We cannot achieve that on our own. God guides us and shapes us. He gives us what we can’t get alone. He forgives our flaws and reshapes us. He teaches us to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. But He doesn’t force us. If we would rather pursue money, worldly love, or our neighbor’s lifestyle, He says “go for it, good luck with that.” All the while He waits for us to come to Him. He waits for us to realize no amount of caviar and champagne can ever be equal to life in Him. He knows who He has made us to be. He sees us as the image of Christ and who we can be is worth so much more than any worldly pursuit or possession. If having a husband and children will keep me from my full potential in Christ, then I do not want them. If having the ability to travel around the world will keep me from pursing the Kingdom of God, I do not want it. Verses 6-10

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

He does not make it hard for us to make Him first. He is so awesome. And when He is first, everything else falls into place. (Matthew 6:33).  Jesus said, the greatest commandment is “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Then He said, “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:36-40). Loving your neighbor, treating him like you would like to be treated, making him just as important as you is like loving the Lord with your entire being. That is deep! The way we show our love for God, the way we testify to the world about our love for God is to love our neighbors, the people we share the planet with. Jesus clarified these two great commandments with a more simply stated but great and powerful command in John 15:12,

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Loving one another and loving the people of the earth is a reflection of our love for God and our love for God is a mere shadow of His intense and bright love for us. When we let covetousness sully that love we squelch the Holy Spirit of God in us and instead of glorifying Christ, we glorify our flesh. We end up saying hurtful things about each other, highlighting faults in others, and breaking down rather than edifying the church. Verses 11-12 say,

“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”

Believers, we cannot let our yearnings come between us. Our mission is to make disciples for Christ. Our tool, weapon, and armor is Love. We walk in humility not hubris. We walk like Jesus filled with His Holy Spirit. In John chapter 15 when Jesus gave us the commandment to love another He also said more, He called us His friends. That is Jesus! Creator of the Universe, King of kings, and God who said that! John 15:12-17 reads,

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

We are united with the fellowship of brothers, we are united with God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We have the same goal. We have immense joy and we want for nothing. Don’t let longings for the temporary things of the earth come between us. Don’t let personal goals come before God’s goals. Don’t let personal planes take the place of god’s plans. Verses 13-17 read,

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

We are supposed to be glorifying Jesus, not ourselves. What do you want most in this world?

Titus Chapter 3

Who were you before you were saved? What were you like before you were born again? What you’re your desires, your plans, and your hopes? They were likely different from your current desires. You were probably a very different person. But when you recognized Jesus as your savior, His Spirit entered you and made you new. He changed you and He continues to change you. Your will aligns more closely to God’s will.

We must be diligent about standing out from the world and being the image of Christ to them. They are lost and we can be the light that leads them to the Truth, the Life, and the Way. Paul encourages us to be different and live out our salvation, and to always be ready to do good for people. Verses 1-2 read,

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”

What if the other person is mean, rude, or a really bad sinner? Do we have to be kind to them? Do we have to do good for the person who is trying to con old ladies out of their pensions or the drug addict? Paul tells us to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Everyone needs Jesus, no one deserves His grace and mercy. You were once lost. What was it that brought you to Jesus? Did someone argue with you, judge you, and tell you to turn or burn? Is that what brought you to redemption? I doubt it. Or did someone lead you to Jesus with love, kindness, and truth? Verses 3-7 say,

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life”

What He did for us, is not meant to be kept for us alone. He washed us and renewed us. He changed us. He poured Himself into us lavishly. We are saved by grace and now have the hope of eternal life for a purpose. We can’t continue living the way we used to live anymore because we are no longer the people we used to be. We are saved by grace but we are saved so that we can do good works. The good we do doesn’t justify us. It doesn’t make up for any sin. But it does give an expression to the Holy Spirit. It does testify to the greatness of The Spirit, the power of Christ, and the love of The Father.

The lost are lost because they’ve been led astray by the prince of this world. Jesus gave us the authority to show them the way to salvation. We show them the Way, the Truth, and the Life through good works, which is God’s love expressed and God’s word manifested. Faith saved us. Grace justified us. But it is good works, the exercising of our spiritual gifts and the fruit of the Spirit that builds the church and leads the lost to Jesus. Verse 8 reads,

“The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.”

Good works not only include working outside the church building but within it. Good works include using our gifts to edify one another, grow in knowledge and love, and become more like Jesus. Building up of the church and loving one another makes us more unified. Unity is a sign of maturity and shows the Holy Spirit in us. Union allows Him to work within us as a group and be manifested even more powerfully than He is as individuals. When Jesus was teaching about church unity and how to handle sin among the brethren He said,

“Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

How He wants to do great and good things with us and through us! Jesus’ promise is not a little thing. He promised that our unity would make anything we ask happen. He promised that even if only two of us come together to agree that He would grant us our request. He promised that even if only two or three of us come together in His name (that is as His representatives doing His will) that He is there with us.

So it is very important to maintain unity. It is extremely important to ensure no one among us is teaching lies, starting arguments, and causing dissention. The dissident causes us to look like the world. He makes us take our eyes off God’s work and puts our minds on foolishness. We are not able to do good works if we are busy arguing over the size of the church bell or whether eating pork is a sin. Verses 9-11 read,

“But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”

We are not saved by good works. We are not saved by our behavior. We are saved by faith. It is His grace that redeems us. But following Christ means we will do as He wants. We want to obey Him. We want to love as He loves. We want to communicate our gratitude. We want to express the Holy Spirit within us. We are not saved by our good works. We are saved by Jesus’ good work. We were led to Christ because a brother or sister did good works and we saw Jesus in them.

Verse 14 says,

“And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.”

Philippians Chapter 4 Verses 10-23

Giving gifts, money, and aid to people is a wonderful blessing. We exercise generosity, kindness, and faith when we give to others. The ability to receive those gifts is not so easy for some. But accepting charity from others is also an exercise of God’s Spirit in us. Applied gratitude, faith, humility, and grace bless others too. It is more difficult to accept gifts, even kindness from others. We are a people who have difficulty with the concept of getting without having to give in return. Grace is so simple and yet it is a concept so hard to grasp. The ability to both give and receive in grace is a mark of maturity and a manifestation of God within us. Does that mean we should go around bemoaning our neediness in order to get people to offer us gifts? Absolutely not! Where is our faith in God when we run around manipulating others into giving?

Paul was in prison, completely dependent on God for his needs. And God most often meets the needs of His children through His children. We, as a church love one another, edify one another, pray for one another and provide for one another. The church at Philippi had been faithful in sending him gifts throughout his missionary journeys, and now that he was in prison they remembered him again. Verses 10-13 read,

“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Paul trusted the Lord to move the hearts of people to supply his needs. He didn’t send out letters to everyone and guilt them into giving to him. He did exhort them to give to others though and encouraged generosity. In his letters to the Corinthians and the Thessalonians Paul spoke about giving. He knew he had a right to ask for support for himself, but he chose to trust God, to let God be God and meet all his needs. And he had learned to be content regardless of his situation. When he had more than enough, he was content. He didn’t seek more. When he had nothing and had no idea how he would even find food he was content, he didn’t lament his conditions and seek more. Content means very simply pleased and satisfied. It is not only not needing more, but being happy and grateful.

Are we happy and grateful when the only meal we can afford is ramen? Are we happy and grateful when we can choose between the lobster and the T-bone? God provided both those meals. It isn’t easy to be content in either situation but with Jesus it is possible. As we learn to trust Him and be satisfied whatever our lot, He strengthens us, His Spirit makes us more like Him.

Verses 17-20 read,

“Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Paul wasn’t asking for money, but he did want the church to grow in Christ. Giving to others, especially when we must sacrifice to do so increases the Spirit in us. And that increases our treasure in Heaven. God doesn’t keep a record of our wrongs, but He does reward our good work. Our charity on earth builds our treasure in Heaven. Our good works can’t save us, there is no amount of goodness that can pay our debt to God. Jesus paid the price for us with His blood. But giving and receiving gracefully are acts that demonstrate the Gospel to the world. In Acts 20:32-35 Paul said a tearful farewell to the church in Ephesus.

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

We should look for ways to help the poor and the weak. We should seek out opportunities to give. But when the time comes, we have to let others be blessed by giving to us as well. Paul ends his letter to the Philippians with verse 23.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

Consider grace. Exercise grace in every facet of your interactions with people. Be graceful as Jesus is graceful. We benefited from His grace and so should all the people we come into contact with. Forgive, give, accept, and live with grace. Expect nothing in return and trust that God is God and He will meet our every need.

Ezekiel Chapter 16

The Lord compares Jerusalem to a woman in this chapter through a captivating narrative. It goes something like this.

She was born and unwanted immediately thrown out to the elements and not a single thing was done for her. Her umbilical cord wasn’t cut, the blood wasn’t washed off her, and she wasn’t wrapped in a blanket. There she lay, helpless and weak until the Lord saw her. He was moved with compassion and said, “Live!” And she did. He made her flourish and she grew up to be beautiful. But she was still naked and poor.

When he passed her by again she was at that tender age able to take a lover. So the Lord protected her and took her in. He covered up her nakedness. He gave her beautiful clothes, fine jewelry and royalty. He fed her the best foods and her beauty and her reputation for beauty grew among the nations. Verse 14 puts it this way,

“And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord God.”

Everything she had, her beauty, her security, and even her life was due to God’s favor toward her. But instead of putting her trust in Him, she put her trust in her beauty. She became a whore. She went out and brought men to her and had sex with all of them. She took the clothes, silks and fabrics the Lord had given her and made shrines and places to practice whoring. She perfumed the beds with incense and oils. She took the jewelry he had given her and made sick images of men to call them to her. She even gave the good foods the Lord had given her to the men who came to her beds. All the elements of her relationship with God, she gave away in whoring. Worst of all she sacrificed her children, the ones the Lord had fathered to idols.

She never looked back to her infantile weakness, her need of redemption and the gift of life God gave her. She built brothels for herself everywhere and word of her promiscuity was known everywhere. Even the most wicked countries were shocked at how licentious and immoral she was. Nothing satisfied her she became more and more wanton. Her philandering spread everywhere.

But unlike most hookers, she didn’t accept money for her prostitution. She wasn’t forced to sell her body. She chose to do it. She seduced men. She gave them gifts, and paid them instead of the other way around.

That is quite the dramatic tale! Yet, it is how Jerusalem treated the Lord and it is how too many of us treat Him. Jesus gave us life. He covered our shame and took away our sin. He made us His bride. God gave us gift after gift including royalty. But rather than trust Him, we trust the gifts He lavished on us. We trust beauty, or personality, or power. We practice adultery openly. Then we’re shocked when outsiders judge us for hypocrisy, hate us and call us evil. We lead people away from the truth and sacrifice the children that came to follow us to Jesus to lies and whoredom.

Have you done that? Have you trusted in God’s gifts instead of God? Have you depended on His provision rather than Him? Have you put your faith in your abilities instead of The LORD? The “love” we show to idolaters and the lost by accepting their sins is not love. Their sins lead them to death, and by allowing them think God tolerates sin we are not loving them. The adultery we commit with them is hateful and harmful. Verse 37 reads,

“therefore, behold, I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from every side and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness.”

God was so angry with Jerusalem for her blatant infidelity and faithlessness that He let her pay for her own sins. His salvation was not hers. She chose her own religion over a relationship with God. So He let her.  He turned her over to her lovers, the many nations whom she could have led to the Lord by glorifying him but instead led to death by glorifying herself.

In Ezekiel 16 Jerusalem was disgusted by Sodom’s sin and Samaria’s iniquities. The Lord called them her sisters and said she was much worse than they ever had been. Sodom was so evil, God obliterated the city from the planet. He called Jerusalem more abominable. We do that today. We think we’re so much better than others. We’re not like the Mormons. They have it all twisted and wrong. We are not like those disgusting homosexuals! We are better.

God says, “No, you are just like them, only worse.” He gave us every opportunity. He heaped His gifts on us. He led us to the truth, but we rejected Him. And we were proud of our rejection as we proclaimed some murky version of “truth” instead of the name of Jesus.

How often do we look at the “sinners” that surround us and think we are better than they are? We’re good. We’re “Christians” We’re not foolish unbelievers who practice every sin in the book. But we are not better. We are far worse because we know better! And too often we join them in their sin, we put a false stamp of approval over it. To know that Jesus gives perfect salvation, to understand that God love us deeply and asks us to love Him first and foremost with our heart, mind soul, and strength, and that Holy Spirit will dwell within us and yet still turn to false gods, philosophies, and sin is far more base than the sins we judge so freely.

God loves you. He wants you to believe, repent, and obey. He wants to let you experience the entirety of His love. God loves the homosexual, the Mormon, and the murderer too. He wants them to know Him. They can’t know Him if you offer some false message to them. They can’t know Him if you emulate a false god rather than the One True Living God.

God gave you life for a purpose. He rescued you for a reason. He brought you to where you are with intention. God is faithful, even when we are not. He wants you, His royal bride to bring others into the Kingdom. Verses 59-63 read,

“For thus says the Lord God: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant, 60 yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant. 61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you. 62 I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, 63 that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord God.”

Examine your life, your heart, and your relationship with God and with the world. Have you made Jesus Christ your Lord and King? Have you been completely faithful to Him? Have you flirted with the world instead of loving them? Are you a devoted bride to the King of kings? Do you trust God to be your God or do you trust the gifts He gave you?

You have an enemy. Whether you are a follow of Christ or not you have an enemy, but if you are a follower you are in the war against him and his minions. Paul wraps up his letter with some powerful and meaty teaching about it. Verses 10-12 read,

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Paul tells us to be strong, not in our own strength, talent, or wisdom, but in the Lord. We re exhorted to be strong in the Lord. But what does that mean? Remember this, who you are in Christ is different than who you were outside of Him. He gave you gifts. He has trained you, grown you, and moved you through trials. Exercise the faith, wisdom and discernment He gave you and use the gifts He endowed to you. Walk with God, remembering He is alongside you, within you, and you are in Him.

The next verse tells us further how to be strong in the Lord, we are to put on the whole armor of God. It is a choice to use all the gifts and tools we have been equipped with or to let them rust with inactivity. We are all in the battle, but we have a choice in regards to fighting or cowering, and to fight well or poorly.

This isn’t just any fight. We’re not fighting the lost people. They have the same enemy we do, they just don’t know he’s their enemy. It is important to remember that our enemies are not men and women. The lost the prisoners of war. Our enemy is Satan and his underlings the demons who infiltrate, do his bidding, and put the chains on those prisoners. They fight to keep you weak. They fight to keep you ineffective. They do whatever they can to stop you from breaking the POWs out of their prisons and to ensure the captives have no idea they are bound.

But know that you have nothing to fear from Satan much less his demons. You are not called to cower or recoil. You are called to be strong in the Lord and put on His protection. Paul says in verse 13,

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

If we put on all of God’s protection we will withstand and if we use His strength to be active in the war, we will stand firm. We will remain effective fighting warriors allowing Jesus to set the captives free. Let’s take a brief look at the armor we are to wear. And don’t worry it isn’t cumbersome, every piece helps us to stand and fight.

Verse 14,

“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,”

The belt of truth is the first piece of armor. The belt held up the soldiers’ tunic allowing him to run and move freely. The truth does that for us. John 8:44 describes Satan as a liar and murderer,

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Satan can only lie. And he lies well. He can make lies sound truthful, good, and beautiful. His lies can trip us up, keep us from believing we can fight, leave us tangled in the web of deceit unable to join in the battle. When we know the truth, we don’t have to second guess and trip over the lies that scoundrel tells. We don’t even have to listen to them!

One lie he likes to tell you is that we are not worthy to fight with Jesus, that you are too sinful to dare fight in the Lord’s army. But he’s wrong. The next piece of armor is the breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate protected the soldier’s vital organs and kept him alive and able to use his weapons for fighting instead of trying to constantly protect his life. You do not have your own righteousness. But you do have Jesus’ righteousness. Romans 4:22-24 read,

“That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”

We were credited with Jesus’ righteousness, not because of any work, not because we fight in the war, not because we pleased God but because we had faith, believed and live with Jesus as our Lord. Jesus’ righteousness gives us eternal life. Our heart is new, it is the temple of God and it is protected. The enemy can’t have our heart. It belongs to God.

Does it bring you joy and excitement to think about your salvation? It does me. Being saved, I want the POWs to be saved as well. And freeing the captives is one of our most important missions. So our next piece of armor is used for that assignment. Verse 15 reads,

“and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”

You need shoes to walk well and far. Walking barefoot eventually your feet become bruised and painful, causing you to limp. Your feet need shoes to allow you to keep walking with God rather than limping along. Knowing the truth of the gospel, what you believe and why you believe it keeps you walking rather than limping.

Your feet are fitted with the readiness. What does that mean? 1 Peter 3:15 says,

“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

You have to know what you believe and why you believe it. You have to keep Christ honored as your Lord. Your life should show that you belong to Jesus and cause people to ask about the hope, the difference they see in you. You should be able to answer them. You should be able to point them to Jesus, to the Gospel.

The lost have no idea they can have peace with God. They don’t know that God wants to reconcile with them, heal their wounds, and give them freedom and rest. It is our mission as operatives to tell them. We can’t tell them by standing still, we have to go and on order to go, we have to move our feet and travel to them.  Romans 10:13-15 read,

“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Verse 16 reads,

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;”

The shield allowed the soldier to stop weapons from hitting him. He kept it on him always and used it to stop the blows that might have injured him, weakened him and stopped him from being useful in the battle. Our shield is our faith. Faith means you know who God is. We trust completely in His power and strength. We believe He is our Savior, Creator, and the whole world and everything in it is His.

The enemy shoots a fiery arrow your way, but faith in God keeps it from touching you. 1 John 5:4-5 reads,

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

We know how the war ends. God wins, we win! We are already victorious and we keep fighting to complete our mission to free the captives with the gospel of peace. So as hard as the enemy wants to try and hurt us, he can’t. Keep the faith in all circumstances. All the arrows the devil throws our way bounce off the shield of faith and don’t even singe us. Satan can’t even get close to us, he has to fling arrows and hope we are not holding up our faith in order to hurt us. He only has the power to hurt us, if we let him.

Verse 17 reads,

“and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,”

The helmet is the most important part of our protection. The breastplate covers the heart and lungs, but the helmet protects the brain. The brain is the control center for our entire body. It coordinates everything in order for us to live.

We can’t be in the Lord’s army unless we have Jesus’ Salvation. That salvation is what directs the faith, gospel, righteousness and truth to work together for our victory. Without salvation we can’t have faith. We can’t reconcile people to god, if we are not reconciled to Him. We have no righteousness without salvation. We do not know the truth.

The next part of our armor is the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. The sword is the weapon of our armor. It takes training to use a sword well. It requires up close combat to use a sword. Unlike the enemy who fling mendacious arrows at us from a safe distance, we are fully involved with the sword of the Spirit, the word of God.

The Spirit is powerful and He is Truth. When we read the word, He reveals it to us and helps us to understand it. He brings it back to us when we need to hear it. He speaks to us and guides us through every circumstance. But to use the sword well, we must be trained in it. He can’t remind us what He has said, if we never read it or listened to Him. We won’t even recognize His voice if we don’t spend time with Him.

The Word of God is powerful if we use it properly. Remember our mission is to free the captives and reconcile them to God. We have to get in there and use the sword as it was meant to be used. Remember just how powerful the Spirit is. He raised Christ from the dead. He brings people to their knees. He can and does do more than we imagine. He speaks to God for us when we don’t know how.

The word of God is a weapon more powerful than we realize Hebrews 4:12 describes it like this,

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

In Jeremiah 23:29 God describes His word.

“Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”

That is an amazing weapon. What good is it laying by your side? Pick it up, handle it, and use it. The truth of the Gospel is in the Word. The Love of God in the Word. Read it, hear it, speak it and do it.

One of the ways we use the sword of the Spirit is through prayer. Yes! Prayer is wielding the sword of the Spirit. Speaking to the Lord and hearing His Word and doing His Word through obedience makes a difference. Verses 18-20 read,

“praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”

When we pray we are actively exercising the powerful weapon we’ve been given. Asking the Lord to help us and help others, strengthens us, encourages us, equips us, and unites us. Paul ends this letter with verses 23-24.

“Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.”

Love incorruptible. Nothing can sully God’s love, nothing can damage or rust it. The armor of God, like God is incorruptible. Have faith in Everlasting Awesome God. Be strong.

Ephesians 4:7-16

Believer, you have at least one spiritual gift, and you were given it for a reason.  Verses 7-10 read,

“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
    and he gave gifts to men.”

9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

When Jesus ascended to Heaven after His earthly life and resurrection, He gave believers the gift of the Holy Spirit. In John 16:4-7 Jesus told the disciples about Him.

“But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

 “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

Earlier Jesus spoke to the disciples about The Holy Spirit as well. John 14:15-20 reads,

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”

Because of Jesus’ grace, He gave you the Comforter. But only followers of Jesus can receive Him. Jesus told His followers that they knew Him. How could they know Him, if He wasn’t there yet? Because He, Jesus was with them and they knew Him. Jesus, the Father, and the Spirit are all One. They are God, the same perfectly unified God.

When Jesus ascended to Heaven, the Holy Spirit descended to fill Christians. He brought gifts as well. He not only filled us with His inexhaustible power, His magnificent glory, and His vast wisdom, but He also brought with Him spiritual gifts and gave each of us at least one.

Verse 11 reads,

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,”

There are lists of gifts found in several passages of Scripture including here, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Romans 12:5-8, and 1 Peter 4:10-11. These are not the only places they are mentioned but they give us a list of about 16 gifts (what I gleaned and I know I missed some. I highly recommend you find out what your gift is and that you use it.

Finding out what your gift is gives you more confidence in using it and makes you want to use it more. We were given these gifts for a reason. Several, in fact. We are not meant to sit and waste them. 1 Peter 4:10 says we are to be good stewards of the gifts, meaning we are to use them. 1 Corinthians 12:7 calls the spiritual gifts manifestations of the Spirit. They are the demonstration of God in us.

Why are we given these great gifts? What are we supposed to do with them? Ephesians 4 verses 12-14 tell us,

“to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

God equips us, He prepares us for the work of ministry. Yes, you are expected to and are capable to do the work of ministry. He also gives us the tools for building up the body of Christ. That means using our gifts for the benefit of our fellow believers as we all grow closer to God. We continue maturing together, becoming more faithful, more discerning and more loving, in other words, more like Christ until we are completely like Him. When will we have reached the measure of the fullness of Christ? Does it usually take two weeks, two years, or twenty years? We will reach fullness or completion on the Day when we reach New Jerusalem and enjoy eternity with Christ. We will be transformed in a moment and finally we will be perfected.

But we strive for it now. We don’t want to live life like the world chasing every new idea and taking up this doctrine or that creed, and then dropping it for the next wise sounding guru. We are founded on Christ. He never changes. He has stayed the same forever.

Our gifts help us to mature and become more Christ like because they are the expression and materialization of God in us. The Holy Spirit is not a good feeling. He is God. He is not a powerful high. He is God. He dwells within us. He works in us and changes us, and He makes it possible for us to join Him in the ministry of reconciliation and bring the lost to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:14-21).

If we are all more like Christ and we have common goals then we are joined together in our work and in our mindset. Verses 15-16 read,

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

We are joined or fused together. We are integrated. We are armed with our spiritual gifts and with The Spirit Himself. So that we will continue to grow closer, more mature, more loving, and even more united.

The Spirit allows us to speak to each other the truth in love. We can be transparent, completely honest with each other because of the love in us and for each other. We don’t have to be defensive because there is no condemnation in Christ. (Romans 8:1). We don’t have to be prideful because His is a spirit of humility and gentleness. (Matthew 11:29). That allows us to work together, not with one trying to be more important than another or one trying to get more glory than another, but together as one body. The only thing we are supposed to outdo each other in is loving and honoring each other. (Romans 12:10).