Wisdom, Revelation, And Knowledge!

One of the most needed things among the Body of Christ today is revelation knowledge of the Word of God.

To understand what revelation knowledge is and how to get it functional in your life, you have to know at least some of the basics about your spirit, soul, and body. Your spirit is the part of you that was changed at salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Your body and soul didn't become totally new. They can be changed and renewed as you grow in the Lord, but that is a continuing process. The only part of you that is completely changed at salvation is your inner man or spirit.

This born-again spirit is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him (Col. 3:10). 1 Corinthians 2:16 says "But we have the Mind of Christ," and 1 John 2:20 says, "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." These scriptures show us that our spirit man is complete in Jesus (Col. 2:10). We know all things.

But even though that is true in your spirit, this knowledge will not profit your physical and soulish parts until you release it by renewing your mind. Romans 12:2 says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, Will of God."

Our minds are actually the battleground. Our spirits are complete (Eph. 4:24, Col. 2:10), and our bodies will do what they are told, but our soulish parts (which include our intellect) have the responsibility to choose or exercise our free will. So in that sense, a person's soul is the master control over our whole person. For the born-again man, the spirit is the driving or life-giving force, but the soul has the last say-so because of the will. God will not violate our free will except in final judgement. Therefore, it is necessary that we get this "mind of Christ" (which we have received in our spiritual man) functioning in our soulish minds so we can make the right choices. This is done by studying the Word of God. God's Word is the wisdom of God (Luke 11:49), written down so that our soulish man can read and understand it. But shows us that the mere knowledge of God's Word is not enough. We must have spiritual understanding because God's Word is spirit and it is life (2 Corinthians 3:6, John 6:63).

When the knowledge of God's Word enters our soulish minds through hearing or studying it, our spirits bear witness with the truth and impart wisdom, which is the ability to apply knowledge. This then becomes revelation knowledge, not just facts about God ( you could program a computer with that), but the knowledge of God which has been divinely quickened in us by God through our born-again spirits.

This explains why the Word of God seems to work for some people and not for others. On the surface it may appear that all knew the Word, but in truth, only those who overcame had the Word of God made alive on the inside of them through revelation knowledge. God's Word works! And if we have the true revelation of God's Word in our hearts, we will overcome the world.

How do we receive the Word of God being made alive and powerful in our lives as Hebrews 4:12 talks about? One important way is by meditating God's Word. Too many times, we get so hungry to learn God's Word that we don't take sufficient time to let the mind of Christ in our spirit man give us a full disclosure of the power that is in those words. There was a time in my life when I was so busy reading every book and going to hear every preacher that the Lord told me to stop all of that and make the truth He had spoken to me a reality in my life, (that's wisdom, the application of knowledge). I am not saying that we should stop filling ourselves with the knowledge of the Word, but we need to realize that only the Word which has been mixed with faith (which comes from our spiritual man, Rom. 10:10) will profit us (Heb. 4:2). We would be better off with only a small amount of the Word in us if it was a true revelation to us from God than if we had vast amounts of Scripture with only carnal understanding. The early disciples proved this because in comparison to the completed Word of God that we have today, they did not have the majority of the New Testament scriptures. The Old Covenant scriptures were not readily available to them, and yet they still transformed their present-day world.

This revelation knowledge is what has been missing in the religious realm's presentation of God's Word. Carnal preachers have been putting out carnal knowledge to carnal people, and therefore, the true power of God's Word has not been released. But in these last days, God's revelation knowledge is beginning to flow among His people more than ever before. Believers are not responding to the titles before or behind a man's name but rather to the power of God's Word, regardless of which vessel it comes through, "For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power" (1 Cor. 4:20). You can have this revelation knowledge, for God has already given to you the "Mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16).
..

Our Christian Walk - As Eagle Saints!

.....Isaiah 40: 31 says, " Those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like Eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

.....An Eagle is a large, strong, bird of prey, known for its sharp vision, and powerful wings. It has the natural ability to soar higher than any other, face any storm, locking its wings, and rise up above it. An Eagle's vision is keen, and can see for miles. If it's vision gets dim, it will fly through a waterfall to clear their eyes. When their beak gets tough and worn down, they will beat it against a rock, so a new one can come through. Their existence and design gives them the ability to swoop down on a serpent, and snatch it up in their talons. The main diet of the Eagle is fish and small animals, but they also eat dead carcasses, according to Mathew 24: 28. I wish to explain the aspect of dead carcasses from the Bible in type and meaning for us as Eagle Saints today.

.....As Eagle Saints, we must feed on a fresh Revelation of the Death of Christ. Jesus said, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you," John 6: 53. An Eagle Saint, or believer, seeking maturity, goes through suffering and adversity in his Christian walk throughout his lifetime. The suffering occurs mostly when we have to change the way we think after receiving Truth or Revelation. The adversity comes in the form of persecutions, lost friendships, and trials that also come with that new Revelation. Most painful is being alienated from those who we were once close with, being misunderstood for what God is doing in our lives.

.....So what we must do today is keep soaring to new heights, over the storms of life, and know that the wind of the Spirit is beneath our wings. This is in the understanding that "Spiritual Strength" only comes from waiting, ( A Point and Position Of Rest), on the Lord. He is the one lifting us towards our higher calling in Christ. Philippians 3: 12-14 says, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize, (Evidence of you in God, and God in you), of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." This yearning for perfection is not, and can never be, in Human perfection. But to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, and let us be of the same mind, the mind of Christ, till the Salvation, (or Victory), of the Soul is reached.

.....So in your Christian walk today, understand that God has begun the work of grace in your life, and He will perfect it. He will help those who, in humble dependence on Him, help themselves. In the Revelation, Wisdom, and Knowledge, of Divine Grace, our souls shall ascend above the world. We shall run the way of God's commandments cheerfully. Let us watch against unbelief, pride, and self-confidence. If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall; but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carried above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus.
..

..

The Mystery Of Faith! - Part 2

.....We have been using our Faith more for temporal things than for Spiritual things. Like driving down the road for instance. We apply our Faith by driving within the lines laid out on the roads everyday, expecting others coming in the other direction, to do the same. We have also used it to measure our life by quality and quantity. Society, as well as the church in general, judges others in this same manner. If they are lacking something in the physical or in their possessions, they say that they are lacking Faith or that there is some kind of sin in their life. They couldn't be further from the truth. In Philippians 4: 11-13, Paul said that he knew what it was like to be abased, and abound, to be full, and to be hungry, to abound, and to suffer need. But the revelation he had after stating that was that he could do all things through Christ who strengthens him. He also learned to be content in whatever state he was currently in. For another example, just go back and read about Job, and what happened to him, and all that he went through. He may have questioned God, but he did not lack Faith.

.....Paul says to look toward the things unseen. His possessions were to get to know God, and find his purpose in life. He was referring to Relationship. A union secured by Faith, in a gift, given by God, according to His Promise, as stated in Romans 4: 13 and Romans 5: 17, "A Promise of Righteousness," being in right standing with God, through Jesus Christ.

Faith puts our trust in God and not in ourselves.

.....An example of this is our Salvation. Our Faith began with Jesus, continues with Jesus, and shall end with Jesus, who is the Alpha, and Omega, the beginning, and the end, the first, and the last.

Faith comes by way of Revelation.

.....Faith initially was designed to respond to God according to "His Divine Will and Purpose" for our life. First, to come to Christ, and second, for completing His Will in our life, establishing the order of God here on this Earth. Revelation of the Truth in us from the Holy Spirit, will always change the natural. Filling us with the fullness of God, taking us, and changing us from Glory to Glory, Ephesians 3: 17-19.

.....God wants us to live out His dream. And that is why He gives us, His children, visions. Acts 2: 17, says that God gives old men dreams, and young ones visions. An example of this is in 1 Chronicles, Chapter 17 and Chapter 22, with David and his son, Solomon, concerning the building of the temple of God. And through the Mystery of Faith, we are to pursue that unseen place in the natural, and make it manifest for all to see on this Earth, bringing Glory to God, who gave us that vision.
..
...

The Lion And The Lamb

.....I was asked by my "Spiritual Mom" about the subject of Jesus being referred to as a "Lion," and a "Lamb." I wish to impart it to you today. I thank you Mom for asking me, and thank the Lord for the Revelation, Wisdom, and Knowledge concerning this. I hope that you are blessed and share the blessing I received from this study with others in my absence. Let's start with the aspect of Jesus being spoken of as a Lamb. Revelation 6: 1, "The Lamb," (Arnion, which is pronounced Ar-nee-on), is the title of the exalted Christ. The Lamb that was slain, but still living, and showing that He has overcome. I am going to show you what now can be revealed, and what has been accomplished today through Christ.

.....First of all, a lamb is a young sheep, representing a person of innocence, something loved and dear. In the Bible, a lamb was used in direct contrast to the beast. The beast was and is savage, cruel, hostile, and destructive. Our Lord is a lamb, gentle, compassionate, loving, kind, innocently suffering, and dying to atone for our sins.

.....In the book of The Revelation of Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb combine the two elements of Majesty, and Meekness.

Majesty is the dignity or power of a Sovereign God.

Meekness is one that is full of patients, mild, gentle, and kind; not inclined to anger or resentment.

The Lamb represents the First Coming, Victorious Death, Resurrection, and Ascension.

.....In Genesis 22:7, the lamb was originally a burnt offering, a sacrifice, which belonged entirely to God. Jesus was the Lamb referred to in Isaiah 53: 6-8, our substitute, and voluntarily accepted our guilt and punishment, the iniquity of us all, laid upon Him.

.....In John 1: 29, John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as the "Lamb Of God," who justifies us, and takes away sin.

.....1 Peter 1: 18-19 says, that we were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, aimless tradition received from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.

.....Revelation 5: 6, and 12, is a picture and a "Proclamation In Heaven," to what is already true about the Lamb being slain, and when someone comes to the "Throne of Grace," he will find a sacrifice already there, (Christ), provided for him to offer to God. And the Lamb slain, in Revelation 13: 8, is what gets us in the "Book Of Life."

Revelation 12: 11 is a key scripture that I wish to explain to you in detail.

.....It says, "They overcame him, (The Enemy), by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."


.... First of all, it speaks of the ongoing warfare on this Earth. It also speaks of the overcoming ability of the redeemed, and the basis of their triumph, the "Blood Of The Lamb," which is our Salvation, and source of overcoming victory, (The Authority Of God's Word), and our testimony, (Testifying To The Truth). The Holy Spirit is preparing us today in our own faith, and faithfulness, releasing the wisdom to embrace "The Cross," for the full manifestation of God's Kingdom here on this Earth. How you may ask, is He going to do this?

Through our focus and Revelation on The Lamb...The Lion will manifest itself.

There are not a lot of scriptures about "The Lion," so let me explain.

(This is where the Revelation comes in.)

.....A lion is a large powerful cat, considered king of the beasts, representing a person of great courage, strength, and significance. And a Lion's share represents the whole thing, or the biggest and best portion. Jesus is referred to as "The Lion", and His share is us in Him, and God's Kingdom.

.....Jesus is The Lion from the Tribe of Judah. Now understand that Judah means "The Praised." This is the key and Revelational aspect of the Lion. He is coming from a Praise in His people rising up. A catching away or elevated consciousness of who we are in Christ, (which is in a state of mind or being), as in 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17, which says, "For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel (A Messenger), and with the trumpet, (A Clear Sounding Word), of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, (A High Place), to meet the Lord in the air, ( a new dimension, The Spirit Realm). Through this we are transformed into the image and likeness of Christ, perfected, and complete as in the example we have with passage of scripture on the Mount of Transfiguration in Mathew 17:1-13. The Salvation of the Soul taking place.

.....This is the new song of "Praise," referred to in Revelation 5: 9 saying, "You are worthy to take the scroll, and open the seals, For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood. Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the Earth." Through the Revelation of the Finished Work, we will have come up, or are elevated with who we are in Christ. The Lion, Christ, will claim His Lion's share, which are His people, and peace and tranquility will stem from the fullness of God's Kingdom fully establishing itself on the Earth as stated in Isaiah 11: 6-9. Blessed are those called, ( For Fellowship and Eternal Blessedness) to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Revelation 19:9. For within the Lamb, the Lion will appear.
..

Unifying The Church - The Body Of Christ!

.....I come to you today as an Ambassador for God through Christ, to speak to YOU as a trumpet, and also as a prophetic voice, detached from things that mean nothing, and attached to God's things, that mean everything, preparing the way. A clear sounding word, used in the Old Testament as a signaling of God's presence, a calling of the assemblies, announcing a Feast, and a gathering of the Nation of Israel. As an Ambassador, it is my job to be a peacemaker. A peacemaker does not evade issues. He faces them, deals with them, and conquers them. He has no passive acceptance of things, but actively faces things, making peace, even when the way to peace is through struggle. The Church is to be the conscience of the Nation, and the conscience of Society, establishing peace, which is for the most part, to experience F.R.E.E.D.O.M. - Fully Renouncing Every Evil Dominion Over Man, from all trouble, and the enjoyment of all good. A conviction brought about by loyalty and living for Christ today.

.....I wish to address this day, the subject of Unifying the Church - The Body of Christ. Jesus is coming again, and is returning for 1 Bride, without spot, or blemish. Yet, the body of Christ is still not picking up on this. The true power of the Church will not manifest itself today until we come together as one.

.....I am about to show you a physical picture of a Spiritual Truth concerning this. Christianity was meant to be seen. We are to be a guide to make clear the way as an example, and also a warning light to others, concerning our duties to the world. I wish to start with Mathew 5: 14-16 which says, "You are the light (One Light) of the world. A city, (The New Jerusalem), that is set on a hill, (A High Place For Everyone To See), and cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house, (The World). Let your light so shine before men, (Visible To All), that they may see your good works, (Attracting Them To God), and glorify your Father in Heaven."

Follow me now to the book of "The Revelation Of Jesus Christ."

.....In Revelation 1: 10-13 it says, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as a trumpet, saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and what you see, write to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lamp stands, and in the midst of the seven lamp stands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band."

.....Note that there are seven lights revealing Christ, in His fullness, standing there in the midst of the light. And as I said earlier, we are the Light. But why are we not there yet?

.....Chapters 2 and 3 in the book of Revelation of Jesus contains seven messages to seven churches. The number 7 in the bible represents Completion, or Divine Perfection. God is trying to reveal to us how the unity of the body of Christ is to come about. The perfecting of the Church. A physical picture of a Spiritual Truth. Each message contains a praise, and a rebuke from the Lord, then a correction to be made in the body, and then a reward for that correction. I have listed them below in part for this study.

The Church of Ephesus

Commendation- Rejects evil, perseveres, has patience.
Criticism- Love for Christ no longer fervent.
Correction- Do the works you did at first.
Promise- The tree of Life.

The Church of Smyrna

Commendation- Gracefully bears suffering.
Criticism- None.
Correction- Be faithful until death.
Promise- The crown of Life.

The Church of Pergamos

Commendation- Keeps the faith of Christ.
Criticism- Tolerates immorality, idolatry, and heresies.
Correction- Repent.
Promise- Hidden manna, and a stone with a new name.

The Church of Thyatira

Commendation- Love, service, faith, patience is greater than at first.
Criticism- Tolerates cult of idolatry and immorality.
Correction- Judgement coming, keep the faith.
Promise- Rule over nations and receive the morning star.

The Church of Sardis

Commendation- Some have kept the faith.
Criticism- A dead church
Correction- Repent, strengthen what remains.
Promise- Faithful honored and clothed in white.

The Church of Philadelphia

Commendation- Perseveres in the faith.
Criticism- None.
Correction- Keep the faith.
Promise- A place in God's presence, a new name, and the New Jerusalem.

The Church of Laodicea

Commendation- None.
Criticism- Indifferent.
Correction- Be zealous and repent.
Promise- Share Christ's throne.

Now picture with me how this all works:

Imagine we, the church, are in a dark room, (The World), and as a correction is made in our lives, a light is lit on a Menorah, (Jesus is the Golden Candlestick, and YOU are the Light of the World). The light reveals an aspect of Truth, about Christ, and you in Christ. A promise revealed and received. Now we know through the study of scripture that light always dispels darkness. And also no amount of darkness can ever put out that light, (Truth), once it is lit, (Within You). That is Revelation. So as we, the Body of Christ, continue to make these 7 corrections within the Church, more and more lights are then lit, revealing more of Him and less of us, until all that we see is Him. These corrections are in the correct order according to the word of God, and will manifest the fullness of Christ, restoring the power within the Church, unifying the body, creating a bride, (1 Bride), without spot or blemish for Him to receive. God gave us the perfect example of this when He created Adam and Eve. God first made Adam, and then Eve for him, his help-mate, 1 bride, was made from a part of him. In this same way, God made Christ, and His Bride, the Church is to also be made from Him. That can only be manifested stage by stage through these 7 corrections for perfection. So Church, let's start making these corrections. How you might ask? Through the Six Steps to the Throne of God, which I will reveal to you later.
..

The Melchizedek Priesthood

.....We as Christians today are called to the order of the Melchizedek Priesthood, in Hebrews 7. A Kingdom consisting of Righteousness, (right standing with God) and Peace, (reconciliation with God). We have been born again, having no father, mother, earthly heritage, or genealogy. A new birth in Christ, having no beginning of days nor end of life. No longer based on the Law of fleshly or carnal commandments, but according to the power of an endless life, Eternal Life. This is accomplished by an anulling of the former commandments through a supreme sacrifice, and a bringing in of a better hope, which is Christ. He alone is the surety of a better Covenant made by the Finished Work of the Cross, establishing better promises, through which we draw near to God. This hope (Christ) is set before us and is an anchor of the soul which allows us the presence behind the veil. Jesus is the forerunner to which more will follow through His appearing in us. This is the true tabernacle, or dwelling place which God originally erected, through His Son. The New Jerusalem will be raised and manifest itself in a people, not a place today.

.....Some of the characteristics of the Royal Priesthood manifesting itself are listed below...

They bear God's mark.

They hear what God is saying and pursue it.

They don't praise their praise.

They don't revel in their Revelation.

They are not possessed by their possessions.

Their speech is different.

They are more interested in Christ and in God, than a move of God.

When God moves, they don't just see the move, they are in it because they are in Him.

Their wrestling with God becomes realization through the Wisdom, Revelation, and Knowledge of the Finished Work of the Cross, and the result is rest as they realize their place in Him.

.....This ultimately gives us a true understanding through a relationship with our Heavenly Father, and leads to a freedom to walk in the Spirit, producing an alternative way of thinking, and a clear sounding word, by a renewing of the mind. We need to realize that we are Ambassadors for Christ, representing His Kingdom being established on this earth, through the Power and Authority given to us in the Name of Jesus, the Name above all names.

.

WHY DID JESUS WEEP?

.....The passage of scripture in John 11: 1-44, is the story about Lazarus being raised from the dead. It also contains the shortest verse in the whole Bible, John 11: 35, "Jesus wept." May I share with you today a little bit of Revelation received from God through my personal studies about why Jesus wept.

.....One of Jesus' best friends, Lazarus, was sick. Mary and Martha sent someone to go and find Jesus. Yet when Jesus heard the news, He remained where he was for two extra days before coming. He told his disciples, (John 11: 4) "This sickness is not unto death, but for the Glory of God, that the Son of God maybe Glorified through it." The story was an example of God's Divine Sovereignty in the midst of human suffering demonstrating His Purpose and Grace through His Son Jesus. Jesus explained in John 11: 9 - 10 that His orders came from His Father and His relationship with His Father determined His actions. He went on to explain to the disciples in John 11: 11, that Lazarus, His friend, was only asleep and He would go and wake him. Lazarus represents the Church today, not dead but asleep, needing a Revelation of Jesus to awaken them today. Jesus finally arrived in Bethany and Lazarus had now been inthe tomb for 4 days. At this point, Martha and Mary both confronted Him when He showed up and each said, "Lord, if You had only been here, my brother would not have died. Jesus told them that their brother would rise again, but they did not understand what He meant by this. So He tried to explain to them further in John 11: 25 - 26, saying, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me, shall never die." Then He asked Martha if she believed this, and she said in John 11: 27, "Yes, Lord, I believe You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world. Jesus then groaned in the Spirit and was troubled when He saw Mary and the Jews that were with her crying. He asked them where they had laid him. And then He wept.

.....My question today is why did Jesus weep and who did He weep for?

.....He could not have been weeping for Lazarus, for three reasons:

.....1. Lazarus was asleep.

.....2. This sickness was not unto death, but for the Glory of God, so that the Son of God maybe Glorified through it.

.....3. Whoever believes in Me shall never die, he shall live.

.....You see at this point it struck me why He wept, and who He wept for. Jesus was weeping for Mary, Martha, and all the Jews (the people), not for Lazarus. Follow me back in time for moment.

.....In 2 Peter 3: 8 its says, "One day with the Lord is as 1000 years, and 1000 years is as one day." From the time of Adam and Eve in the Garden and their fall, to the fulfillment of all the Prophecies of the Messiah coming was 4000 years. Hence, the reason Jesus waited 4 days to go and see Lazarus. Lazarus in a way represented all of Mankind, God's creation that was in a fallen state, sick, dying under the curse, and separated from God, because of the force of Sin being released upon the Earth.

.....So here was the Messiah, the Christ, who came into this world to make things right again, and reconcile man back to God, fulfilling the Law, standing there before them and yet they still doubted and could not believe. This is truly why He wept. Jesus had been with Mary, Martha, the Disciples, and the Jews at this point for a few years, doing many miracles before them and shared many things with them and yet they still could not understand. You see, in the presence of the Messiah the Law is fulfilled, the curse is reversed, and death had no power or right to hold Lazarus in the tomb. Jesus was trying to show them it was only temporal and not eternal upon the completion of the Finished Work of the Cross.

.....In John 11: 38 Jesus went to the tomb and a stone was laying against it. The stone represented an obstacle, the bondage, those things that stand in our way to believing in the Word of God. Jesus told them to remove the stone. Yet they questioned Jesus saying, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for Lazarus has been dead for 4 days." Jesus then asked them about their Faith in John 11: 40 when He said, "Did I not say to you that if you believe you would see Glory of God? (Life in Christ- F.R.E.E.D.O.M.-Fully Renouncing Every Evil Dominion Over Man.) They then removed the stone. Jesus then lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing here before Me, I have said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." Jesus then cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" Showing that the Messiah, and the Word of God spoken, brings forth Life. Lazarus then came out, bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. (Walking toward the Light, The Truth, Taking little steps.) Jesus said to those around him, "Loose him, and let him go." Signifying that those around him, now believers from seeing the Miracle, had a part in helping to set the captives free. This is the responsibility of the Church today. The Body of Christ.
.......................Whom the Son Sets Free, is Free Indeed!

.

THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

Spiritual Warfare

.....God has designed every Christian for spiritual warfare. We are all commanded to resist the devil so that he will flee from us. We must all wrestle against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness or wickedness. In this combat, each of us must learn to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. In a day when the Church is being challenged to a contest of power by the forces of evil, it is essential every Christian learn how to carry out effective spiritual warfare, and put on the pieces of God's Armor and stand against the devil.

The Whole Armor of God (Ephesians 6: 10 -- 20 ).

How to put on our Armor and Weapons.

.....A soldier must expend time and energy in order to put on his armor and take up his weapons. Similarly, a Christian puts on each piece of armor through precise disciplines in the Christian life. The spiritual armor of the Christian is similar to the physical armor of a soldier; however, it is of a different nature. Example -- David went out against Goliath in full armor, but all Goliath saw was a slingshot. David's armor had been forged and put on through the years of Godly disciplines which he developed in the wilderness caring for his father's sheep. ( See Psalm 78: 70-72)

1.) Belt of truth

.....Throughout history, the belt has been a symbol of strength, it is also been a means of freedom, and open times. Men wore outer garments which reached to the ground. If they ran in battle, they would be apt to step on the garments and stumble. To avoid this danger, they would raise their garments to the knee and secure them around their waist with the belt. Peter had this picture in mind when he quoted, "Gird up the loins of your mind." (1 Peter 1: 3).
Truth is also a means of freedom, as Jesus said, "And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free." (John 8: 32) (see also -- John 14: 6 ).

The Discipline related to the Belt of Truth:

Reading the Bible daily

.....Satan is a liar and the father lies. (See John 8: 44). He will tell us lies about God, ourselves, sin, the purposes for which God made things, and about every other aspect of our life. The best way to guard ourselves from Satan's lies is to have a daily program of reading and studying God's Word. ( The Truth )

2.) Breastplate of Righteousness

.....The Roman warriors who directly engaged the enemy wore plate armor around the trunks of their bodies to protect vital organs. In the same way, Christians are directed by God to guard "Their hearts with all diligence; for out to of them are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4: 23) The plate armor was heavy and restricted motion somewhat; however, the protection it gave was necessary for the soldier's survival.

The Discipline related to the Breastplate of Righteousness:

Memorizing God's Word

.....The ability of the Word of God to protect our heart is explained in Psalm 119:11, "Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee."Satan is the accuser of the bretheren (Christians) and brings condemnation to our hearts, (attacking the mind) if we do not know how to offset it with the Truth, such as passages in Romans 8. As we memorize God's word, our hearts, (minds) are sanctified and cleansed, according to John 15: 3, "Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you." (See also Galatians 3: 6 )

3.) Feet Shod with the Gospel

.....The foot is a symbol of authority. When a king was conquered, he would be brought to the victorious ruler and made to bow his head down to the ground. The conqueror would put his foot on the neck of his defeated foe, symbolizing that he had jurisdiction(and victory) over him and his kingdom.

The Discipline related to the Shoes of the Gospel:

Meditating on Scripture

.....Since Satan is the author of rebellion, he will do all he can to cause us to rebel. However, by engrafting Scripture into our souls,( mind, will, and emotions), we will be able to think God's thoughts,(revelation, wisdom, knowledge,) after Him. Meditation On Scripture is the way to engraft God's word into our lives so we can walk in his ways and bring peace to many others through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

4.) Shield of Faith

.....Roman shields came in various sizes and shapes, but the purpose was the same: To protect a warrior from deadly spears, arrows, and swords of the enemy. Even with the other pieces of armor, a soldier had vulnerable areas and needed the added protection of a shield to stop or deflect what would otherwise be lethal blows. The Roman shields were designed to interlock with one another. With this feature, soldier's interlock their shields over their heads and advance towards the walled cities of the enemy. The fiery darts that came down upon them from their enemies on the walls, were thus ineffective.

The Discipline related to the Shield of Faith:

Fasting Regularly

.....Satan is the one who buffets the Saints and watches for openings to attack. It takes spiritual discernment to anticipate and deflect these assaults. Such discernment comes through fasting. Jesus promised to reward openly those who fast secretly, and Isaiah 58 promises good judgment to those who fast. When Paul was buffeted by Satan, he resorted to prayer and fasting.

5.) Helmet of Salvation

.....A variety of helmets were worn by soldiers of different armies. In hand to hand combat, it was a distinct advantage for a soldier to have a helmet which protected not only his head, but also is face, an especially his eyes. A blow to the uncovered head would immediately disable the soldier; therefore, this was one of the most important pieces of armor.

The Discipline related to the Helmet of Salvation:

Rising Early

.....One of Satan's most devastating tactics is to disable us with fear. (False Evidence Appearing Real). If he can bring fear to our minds, we will take our focus off the power and protection of the Lord and lose our will to sustain the battle. By rising early in the morning and having a communion time with the Lord, we renew our minds to what's true of us in Christ and focus on God's power and purposes for us through the day. (Reflection and repentance also). David wrote, "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and I will look up." (Psalm 5: 3)

6.) Sword of the Spirit

.....The first five pieces of armor are defensive; however, the sword is to be uses an offense a weapon. The effectiveness of the sword depended on the hardness of the metal and the sharpness of the edges. The two edged sword was essential in battle because the soldier could wheeled it at the enemy in either direction.

The Discipline related to the Sword of the Spirit:

Using Rhema in Warfare

.....The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The Greek term used in this verse for "Word" is not Logos but Rhema. Rhema is Scripture which the Holy Spirit gives us for a particular situation. Jesus demonstrated how to use Rhema when he was tempted in the wilderness. With each temptation, he quoted a verse of Scripture from the Old Testament Logos. ("It is written" or "God says").The disciplines of reading, meditating and memorizing Scripture will provide the basis of receiving Rhema from the Holy Spirit. A wise exercise in spiritual warfare would be to match Rhema with temptations which you anticipate. (Rightly understanding God's Word and the right use of it.)

7.) All Prayer

.....Our second offense a weapon is prayer. "The effectual ferverent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (Makes much power available.) (James 5: 16). The scope of the influence of prayer is extensive: "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all Saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make know the mystery of the Gospel." (Ephesians 6: 18 -19).

The Discipline related to Ferverent Prayer:

Establishing Priorities

.....Satan is a hinderer of the Saints (see -1 Thessalonians 2: 18). It is our responsibility to determine what is most important in our lives and to choose the things that are excellent. (Good, perfect, and pleasing to God). Ferverent prayer for the salvation of non-believers and for the strengthening of our brothers and sisters ( In Christ) damages Satan's kingdom. Satan will, therefore, do all he can to hinder Christians from engaging in prayer. We can, however, be more than conquerors if we turned Satan's temptations into signals for prayer. This brings victory in a Christians life. Prayer is the battle itself. God's word is the chief weapon. The bottom line is that an unbroken, ongoing relationship with God is the only absolute guarantee of being constantly dressed in the Whole Armor of God, thus producing true freedom. (Fully Renouncing Every Evil Dominion Over Man.)

.....In conclusion, notice that the Armor of God does not protect the back of the Christian. That is because first of all, God has our back, and also our brothers in Christ. Also we are to stand against the wiles of the enemy, not to run from or shy away but to stand. For weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual and mighty in the pulling down of strongholds, warring against principalities and powers and rulers of darkness.

.