1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and LOVE; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
Spa na na na! Spa na na na! The trumpet calls! Battle stations Friends! It’s Monday morning! Time to engage the enemy once more! Our fearless and awesome leader, Jesus, is already at the front, aligning the troops. So let’s get our spiritual armour on and join Him. We can’t let Him go into battle shorthanded. I know this opening may cause some chuckling – I chuckled when the Spirit first laid it on me – but it’s a real scenario my people, for on Mondays the whole crazy, evil nonsense of our world begins building again, after a brief respite on the weekends. Now if we have not prepared ourselves properly to join the fray, then it’s our own fault, because our Leader and His lieutenants have told us, even more importantly, shown us how to handle the enemy. And as one great leader, Napoleon Bonaparte, said long ago; ‘A leader is a dealer in hope.’ That’s gospel my Friends! A true leader must have the parts, the necessary attributes, to fire up their followers; to develop hope and enthusiasm in them, so that they will gladly and wholly embrace whatever project is involved, and consequently give of their best. All successful leaders possess the trait, skill or ability to inspire by leading, not pushing. They’re always out front, conducting, being the role model. And Friends, if you accept that as the make up of a true leader, then we certainly possess the greatest leader ever in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, cause He’s done everything required of a leader and so much more. From day one, He’s been out on the front line gathering and encouraging lost souls to His awe inspiring programme. He’s built enthusiasm and hope like never seen before in this sinful world. He’s been such a major phenomenon that two thousand years later He’s still the most talked about and controversial figure on the planet. Wow! ‘All praise and glory to the Lamb!’ Yes mih people, there’s never been, and will never be anyone else like Him in the annals of man. He stands head and shoulders above all others that have walked this earth. Why? Because He put His money where His mouth was; He walked His talk, did not shirk His responsibilities, though they were unfair and unjust. And if we’re His true followers then it behoves us to act, walk and talk like Him. We’ll never attain His level of perfection, but we are expected to always do our best, because He certainly did. Friends, Chuh! If I spell that word wrong one more time, I’m going to bounce mih head on the wall. I use it so often every night and half the time I spell it wrong. Steups! Yuh think perhaps the Good Lord trying to tell me to stop using it? (smile) Anyway, Friends, Hooray I spelt it right! Jesus showed us the light. He gave His innocent life as a ransom for our sinful souls, that we could be washed clean and therefore have the right to call on the Father through Him. He also said that we, His followers, are the light of the world and that we should let our light shine brightly through our good works so that others may glorify our heavenly Father. (Mat.5:14,16) And one of His chief spokespeople, Bruh Paul, corroborated that fact. ‘Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober.’ (1 Thess.5:5-6) That’s one of the most important statements Bruh Paul ever made my people. As followers of Christ we can’t be caught napping, sitting on our laurels. An army has to be ever watchful less the enemy attacks unseen, especially under cover of darkness. Getting too comfortable and relaxing their watch has been the undoing of many great armies. The element of surprise plays a huge part in any tactical operation. Remember too Friends, the enemy never sleeps. He’s always prowling around for someone to attack and destroy. Though he’s not in Jesus’ class, he’s still a formidable foe, and if he catches us napping, we could be in for some rough, tough times. That’s why Bruh Paul strenuously warns: ‘For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and LOVE; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.’ (1 Thess.5:7-8) Ah my people, right there is the beauty of our Saviour Jesus! He not only showed His tremendous LOVE, and gave us immense hope of salvation, but He also provided the armour, the wherewithal for our protection from the evil arrows of Lucifer. And if you don’t remember, or know what they are, then go to Ephesians 6:13-17, where they are listed. Read them again and again, even write them down and keep them close at hand, as I’ve done, so that you can be thoroughly clothed for the utmost protection. Note, you can’t pick and choose the pieces you want, cause you’ll be vulnerable in whatever part is left unprotected. You have to put on the whole armour: the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, sandals of peace, shield of faith and the mighty sword of the Word. So armoured Friends, the enemy can’t defeat us, because Jesus died to give us hope; hope of salvation and eternal life with Him and the Father. Bruh Paul says it best, so let’s listen to him. ‘For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.’ (1 Thess.5:9-10) And all God’s people shouted: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Oh Friends, is there any greater hope in this world? No! How can there be, when everything else passes away? Everything, except Jesus! As a leader, He’s unsurpassed, because He’s given His followers the greatest gifts ever; of LOVE and of hope, in particular, hope of salvation and eternal life through His death, resurrection and ascension. The same things are possible for us, because he made it so. Please hang on to that my Friends. It will stand us all in good stead in the long run. Much LOVE!…for he had high hopes…high in the sky hopes…yes he had high hopes…Jesus high hopes….
Spa na na na! Spa na na na! The trumpet calls! Battle stations Friends! It’s Monday morning! Time to engage the enemy once more! Our fearless and awesome leader, Jesus, is already at the front, aligning the troops. So let’s get our spiritual armour on and join Him. We can’t let Him go into battle shorthanded. I know this opening may cause some chuckling – I chuckled when the Spirit first laid it on me – but it’s a real scenario my people, for on Mondays the whole crazy, evil nonsense of our world begins building again, after a brief respite on the weekends. Now if we have not prepared ourselves properly to join the fray, then it’s our own fault, because our Leader and His lieutenants have told us, even more importantly, shown us how to handle the enemy. And as one great leader, Napoleon Bonaparte, said long ago; ‘A leader is a dealer in hope.’ That’s gospel my Friends! A true leader must have the parts, the necessary attributes, to fire up their followers; to develop hope and enthusiasm in them, so that they will gladly and wholly embrace whatever project is involved, and consequently give of their best. All successful leaders possess the trait, skill or ability to inspire by leading, not pushing. They’re always out front, conducting, being the role model. And Friends, if you accept that as the make up of a true leader, then we certainly possess the greatest leader ever in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, cause He’s done everything required of a leader and so much more. From day one, He’s been out on the front line gathering and encouraging lost souls to His awe inspiring programme. He’s built enthusiasm and hope like never seen before in this sinful world. He’s been such a major phenomenon that two thousand years later He’s still the most talked about and controversial figure on the planet. Wow! ‘All praise and glory to the Lamb!’ Yes mih people, there’s never been, and will never be anyone else like Him in the annals of man. He stands head and shoulders above all others that have walked this earth. Why? Because He put His money where His mouth was; He walked His talk, did not shirk His responsibilities, though they were unfair and unjust. And if we’re His true followers then it behoves us to act, walk and talk like Him. We’ll never attain His level of perfection, but we are expected to always do our best, because He certainly did. Friends, Chuh! If I spell that word wrong one more time, I’m going to bounce mih head on the wall. I use it so often every night and half the time I spell it wrong. Steups! Yuh think perhaps the Good Lord trying to tell me to stop using it? (smile) Anyway, Friends, Hooray I spelt it right! Jesus showed us the light. He gave His innocent life as a ransom for our sinful souls, that we could be washed clean and therefore have the right to call on the Father through Him. He also said that we, His followers, are the light of the world and that we should let our light shine brightly through our good works so that others may glorify our heavenly Father. (Mat.5:14,16) And one of His chief spokespeople, Bruh Paul, corroborated that fact. ‘Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober.’ (1 Thess.5:5-6) That’s one of the most important statements Bruh Paul ever made my people. As followers of Christ we can’t be caught napping, sitting on our laurels. An army has to be ever watchful less the enemy attacks unseen, especially under cover of darkness. Getting too comfortable and relaxing their watch has been the undoing of many great armies. The element of surprise plays a huge part in any tactical operation. Remember too Friends, the enemy never sleeps. He’s always prowling around for someone to attack and destroy. Though he’s not in Jesus’ class, he’s still a formidable foe, and if he catches us napping, we could be in for some rough, tough times. That’s why Bruh Paul strenuously warns: ‘For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and LOVE; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.’ (1 Thess.5:7-8) Ah my people, right there is the beauty of our Saviour Jesus! He not only showed His tremendous LOVE, and gave us immense hope of salvation, but He also provided the armour, the wherewithal for our protection from the evil arrows of Lucifer. And if you don’t remember, or know what they are, then go to Ephesians 6:13-17, where they are listed. Read them again and again, even write them down and keep them close at hand, as I’ve done, so that you can be thoroughly clothed for the utmost protection. Note, you can’t pick and choose the pieces you want, cause you’ll be vulnerable in whatever part is left unprotected. You have to put on the whole armour: the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, sandals of peace, shield of faith and the mighty sword of the Word. So armoured Friends, the enemy can’t defeat us, because Jesus died to give us hope; hope of salvation and eternal life with Him and the Father. Bruh Paul says it best, so let’s listen to him. ‘For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.’ (1 Thess.5:9-10) And all God’s people shouted: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Oh Friends, is there any greater hope in this world? No! How can there be, when everything else passes away? Everything, except Jesus! As a leader, He’s unsurpassed, because He’s given His followers the greatest gifts ever; of LOVE and of hope, in particular, hope of salvation and eternal life through His death, resurrection and ascension. The same things are possible for us, because he made it so. Please hang on to that my Friends. It will stand us all in good stead in the long run. Much LOVE!…for he had high hopes…high in the sky hopes…yes he had high hopes…Jesus high hopes….
SCRIP-BITS 