Today’s Scrip-Bit 7 March 2008 1 Peter 2:9-12,15‏

07 Mar 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

1 Peter 2: 9-12,15    But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into marvellous light. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of the foolish man.
 
Listen up Friends! Peter’s writing to strangers, scattered all over the then known world, but all joined together in the same worthy cause; believers in Jesus Christ. I like how he terms them, ‘a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.’ Yes Friends, that’s us too. Although we may be strangers, living in different parts of a much larger world, we are still all joined as one body in Christ; ‘now the people of God…now having obtained mercy.’ So, as the Rock on which Christ built His Church says, we should sing out the praises of the one, Jesus, who brought us out of darkness into the marvellous light, by dying on the cross to redeem our sins. He also admonishes us to stay away from fleshly lusts that corrupt the soul. Refrain from things that will drive us back into the arms of the enemy. He further advises us to keep our conversation and behaviour honest and above board, so that the unbelievers, amongst whom we dwell, and who think we’re evil, will see our continued good works, and eventually change their minds, believe and glorify God. Friends, that’s our purpose, our mission; to win over unbelievers. So though we are a diverse lot, in different locations, in various stages of Christian growth, we are all ONE in the Lord, joined by a sameness of mind, principles and beliefs, working together for the glory of God. But we can only do that by upholding the high principles of our leader, Jesus. Bruh Peter put it so nicely: ‘For so is the will of God, that with well doing, ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.’ Please my Friends, let’s not be weary in well doing, so that others may see the marvellous light Jesus showed us. Much LOVE!…when we lead the way…others will follow…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 6 March 2008 Deuteronomy 23:21-23‏

06 Mar 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Deuteronomy 23: 21-23    When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform, even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.
 
Promises, Promises, Promises! A sweet sounding word that carries an awesome responsibility; defined as ‘an assurance given to a person that one will do, or not do something, or will give or procure him something.’ A vow is a solemn, more serious promise, that in olden times was considered sacred, and not given lightly. A man’s word was as good as gold, you could take it all the way to the bank. His honour, his integrity, his reputation, depended to a great extent on whether or not he kept his promises. In Today’s Bit, Moses is warning the Israelites about making vows to God. You had better keep them, because God will hold you to it, and impute it to you as sin. It’s better not to vow and be held sinless. Even when we promise something that’s not required by God’s law, once we open our mouth, it should be kept. Friends, that point of view should also apply to our fellow humans. But sadly, it seems to have withered and died over the years. Now we say, promises are made to be broken. Oh People, how unfortunate! It’s the bane of our society. We make vows that we have no intention of keeping. A man’s word is no longer honourable. Integrity has disappeared. A handshake no longer seals a deal. Even written contracts are broken with impunity. It’s even supported in the law; ‘Buyer Beware,’ so disreputable sellers can make false claims and promises, but the onus falls on the buyer. Where has our trust and decency gone eh? Scam artists are having a field day, especially amongst the older folks, who still retain some of that trusting mentality. More often than not, the crooks get away with it too. We’ve even dressed it up in a nice name; ‘white collar crime,’ and it seems to incur much less punishment than the ‘blue collar’ kind, although it usually causes much more damage. Something  is wrong with that picture Friends. As somebody said, nowadays, promises are the devil’s best friend. Anyway, I’d like to see us go back to the days when a promise was a promise; it meant something; you intended to keep it, and not the frivolous, insincere intentions we now spout. It’s the only way we can restore some of that trust we’ve lost in each other. It’s interesting how we talk about God’s promises and expect Him to keep them, but what about us eh? If we’re followers of God, then we have that same responsibility. But talk is so cheap and plentiful now, with the cell phone rage. We’ve become a talkative society, mostly talking because we can. Friends, I’m imploring us to let our words be fewer and more meaningful, and when we make a promise, a pledge, a covenant, however we term it, let’s be sincere and have the good intention to keep it. That’s God’s way. It should also be ours. Much LOVE!…remember…a vow…is a vow…is a vow…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 March 2008 2 Corinthians 9:6-7‏

05 Mar 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

2 Corinthians 9:6-7    But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
 
That’s the gospel truth Friends; God LOVES a cheerful giver. So when we give, let’s not give grudgingly, or reluctantly, or because it seems necessary, will make us look good, or some such reason, but because we genuinely want to give, want to really help, to make a difference. It will accomplish two things; God will be pleased, plus our own spirit will be refreshed by that good natured giving. It’s surprising how that works. When we give grudgingly, it’s like pulling teeth; it tears us apart, pains us, makes us feel like we’re losing something near and dear. But when we give from a loving and genuine heart, it brightens and uplifts our soul. If you don’t believe me, try it sometime; give both ways. I’m sure you’ll notice the wide variation and the immense spiritual satisfaction the light-hearted, willing giving brings. Now you’ve got to do this with stuff of equal value, (smile) not give away something you love dearly, then something you don’t care about. But you know what, even that will boost your spirit, possibly not right away, but after a while you’ll certainly feel good about yourself, having given away something that you cherished to someone in need. It’s one of those laws of nature; the way God planned it. Just like if you sow sparingly, you’ll reap sparingly, whereas, if you sow aplenty, then you’ll reap aplenty. So those of us who are lazy, or want to do as little as possible, but expect to receive plenty, hn! Sorry, it doesn’t work like that. Whatever you give out, you’ll get back, so logically speaking, the more you give, the more you receive. But Friends, there’s one proviso: As Paul says, ‘Every man, according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give.’ Yes people, in whatever we do, the intentions of the heart, our reasons for doing it, are very important, because that’s how God judges us, not just on the act itself. So giving just because you hope to get back, doesn’t go down as well as giving because you genuinely want to help. Jesus did not have a lot of material possessions, but He was generous with His LOVE, friendship, mercy, kindness, forgiveness, healing, what ever He had. Like the poor woman, He praised, who could only give a mite, but she gave it with a willing heart. That’s the way we need to be my Friends. Whatever the Lord gives us is just for our stewardship, because we can’t take it with us. We’re supposed to work with it, increase and share it in some way that will benefit others. So people, whether it be time, money or some other material possession, let’s give generously of what we have now nuh, while working diligently to bring about an increase, so that we’ll have more to share in godly, productive ways. Much LOVE!
..remember…it’s not how much we give…but how much of our hearts we give…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 March 2008 Psalm 135:1,3,5,13.‏

04 Mar 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 135:1,3,5,13.    Praise ye the Lord: Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord. Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name, for it is pleasant. For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Thy name, O lord, endureth for ever, and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations.
 
Yes Friends, it’s a day of praise to our Heavenly Father. Being a bit under the weather, (it’s raining, with a promise of snow) I wasn’t looking forward to writing a Bit. But as always, I asked for guidance, and when I opened the Good Book, those verses of Psalm 135, underlined in green, were the first words my eyes beheld, suggesting that the Most High just wanted us to revere and praise Him today. And nobody does that better than Bruh David. ‘Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord.’ He is our Lord and Father, therefore, as His servants and children, we owe Him respect, obeisance and praise. ‘Praise the Lord; for he is good.’ Oh Friends, of that we have no doubt! Jehovah has been so good to us lowly sinners, that the least we can do to show our undying gratitude, is to give Him a whole bunch of thanks and praise. And when we praise His Holy Name in song, oh people, it’s something else to behold. Bruh David says it’s pleasant. I say it’s overwhelming, mind blowing, addictive. Oh Friends, have you ever listened to, or participated in a group of people singing hymns and words of joyous praise to our Heavenly Father? It’s awesome! That feeling of joy, power, and strength of purpose that reverberates, that pours forth from voices raised in inspirational song, it’s…it’s… I don’t seem to have the words to do it justice. So let’s just say it’s awe inspiring! Yes Friends, our God is Magnificent, Majestic, Mighty and Memorable! Bruh David knew that when he said, ‘For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all Gods.’ He got a little mixed up there though (smile)  HE is the ONE and ONLY God:  there is none else like Him; the most powerful Being in the Universe, able to do or be whatever He wants. But Friends, please remember that His first, His basic premise is LOVE; always was, and always will be. And to be His faithful followers, LOVE must also be the core value, the foundation stone, around which our lives are built. In this way, Bruh David’s words will forever ring out with truth. ‘Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever, and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations.’ Hn,Hn! That pleasant chuckle just rose up out of my soul, as I realized that once again the Most High has amazed me. At the beginning I was under the weather, but now I’m bright eyed and bushy tailed; full of energy, rearing to go. Guess He saw that I needed a spark to reignite my fire. I hope and pray He does that for all of His followers today, because Friends, the battle is long and tiring, and every so often, we need to recharge our batteries, renew our energy, fire up our passion for Christ again! Let’s do it today nuh. Much LOVE!…remember…battles are won…more often… on strength of passion…than strength of numbers…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 March 2008 Hebrews 13:5-6.‏

03 Mar 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Hebrews 13: 5-6    Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
 
Yes Friends, Bruh Paul hit the nail on the head; we shouldn’t be covetous, but satisfied with what we have. His words apply  to us much more than the Hebrews, since greed, envy, discontent and the constant wanting of more is the prevailing mood in our society. It’s just gimme, gimme! Cleverly set up and nourished by our politicians and business people, all in the name of increased  profits. We are encouraged, nay, bullied and brainwashed into spending; spending what we don’t even have. Just read the business (rip off) news. The Consumer Index; how much we’ve spent over a certain period has an inflated importance. When it’s up, the business community’s laughing. But when it’s down, it’s pure doom and gloom. Technology’s played its part too with a new gadget or toy released every day amidst wild, often false claims that it’s paradoxically not bigger and better, but smaller and better, can do more things. Imagine cell phones that also act as cameras, internet devices, video displays, music downloaders and players, that fit in the palm of one’s hand. What has all this led to, especially among the young people? A rush to own these toys, that in turn has led to increased peer pressure, bullying and violence. The same with the insipid style clothes, shoes and jewellery. Sadly though, it’s not only the young who have been caught up in the rat race, but also a lot of older folks who have added the big ticket items like cars, houses,vacations, yachts etc to their wish list.. And what has all this been bought with? Credit! The house of cards that greed and envy built. We want it, but we can’t afford it, so we buy it on credit, and the greedy business people give it to us although they know they shouldn’t. Then when the melt down comes, as it must, with the mortgage crisis and the looming credit card problems, everybody hold deh head and bawl Poor me! The wealthy seem okay, for despite numerous jobs being lost in the west to the cheaper Asian world, the yacth industry is flourishing like never before, with personalised yachts, so big and lavish you can’t call them yachts anymore. Oh people, we’ve got to stop this mad rush to acquire things we can’t afford and often don’t need. Lot’s of us dress up in the latest fashion, with the latest cell phone and i-pod, but don’t have a penny in our pockets, or food in our homes and can’t pay the rent on the substandard housing we dwell in. That makes no sense. We should all aspire to improve our lives, but we need to do it sensibly. Starting by not comparing ourselves to others, this just brings up the envy that leads to the coveting, especially using their material possessions as a yardstick. They might have sold their soul to acquire what they have, and we definitely don’t want to do that. Then we’ve got to make a conscious decision and a conscious effort to bide our time while walking in the Lord’s will, confident that He’ll satisfy all our needs, since He promised to never leave or forsake us, which allows us to ‘boldly say. The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me,’ Friends, please, let’s be very careful. This world has lots of glitzy temptations and our eyes are usually bigger than our pockets are deep. So let’s trust in the Lord; let’s choose wisely, choose those things that will keep us in good standing with Him. Much LOVE!…the world’s gone gung ho crazy…but our God says…steady now… hold a straight course…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 March 2008 Matthew 18:21-22 & 35‏

02 Mar 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Matthew 18: 21-22, 35.    Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespass.
 
Forgiveness is possibly the most difficult aspect of our faith, but also one of the most important. Forgiving someone who’s wronged you isn’t easy, especially if it’s a serious hurt. However it is a foundation stone of Jesus’ philosophy. Peter knew this, but figured there had to be some limit to it. So, thinking he was being rather generous, he asked if seven times was sufficient. He must have been shocked when Jesus said seventy times seven. Seven times is hard enough, but 490. Wow! Jesus had to be joking. Human nature did not possess the capacity for so much goodness and generousity of heart. Peter was lucky he did not propose a higher number, because Jesus would simply have added a zero and multiplied them the same way. But why is forgiveness so important eh? Because it’s inextricably tied up with LOVE; the main theme. You can’t LOVE, if you don’t forgive, simple as that. Peter’s question led Jesus to tell them the parable about the rich man forgiving his servant a great debt when he asked for compassion, then that same ungrateful servant throwing his debtor into jail, until he paid the pittance he owed. That has always puzzled me; if someone can’t pay their debts while outside working, how can they, if in prison unemployed? Anyway, the other servants told the master about it, and he angrily confronted the ingrate, saying that just as he, the master, had shown him compassion when he begged for it, he should also have have shown mercy to the other servant. Then he had him imprisoned until he could pay his debt. ‘So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespass,’ were Jesus’ closing words. Yes my Friends, it is blatant hypocrisy when we ask the Lord to forgive us, but can’t forgive others, usually of lesser stuff. Not only is harbouring resentment and all that negative stuff, physically unhealthy, since it builds up bitterness in our souls, it also blocks our communication with God. Like how bad weather plays havoc with  t.v and radio transmission, that negativity creates static in our wireless transmission with God. He doesn’t hear us, so he can’t answer. Oh People, it’s basically a selfish attitude. Reminds me of the old T&T saying, ‘do so ent like so.’ We don’t like the things we do to others done to us. Like what they say about payback nuh. (smile) Jesus said it so many different ways: do unto others as you’d like them do to you; fix your problem with your brother before you come to God; take the beam out of your own eye before you try to take the mote out of someone else’s. But that’s the nature of the human animal; selfish. However Friends, if we want to be a clone of Jesus, we’ve got to curb that attitude, reduce it to the bare minimum, so the Father will respond in kind to us. Much LOVE!..it’s not easy…but with God’s help…we can walk the talk of forgiveness…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 March 2008 Psalm 128:1-4‏

01 Mar 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 128:1-4    Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shalt the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
 
Sometimes I think we have a mental imbalance yes, since we see, hear, read and experience such wonderful experiences when we are obedient to the Lord’s word, yet we still allow the enemy to ‘confuffle’ us with his outright lies, prevarications, worthless promises of material possessions and all his other flimsy appeals. I know we’ll all agree with Bruh David’s statement that ‘Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.’ But do we live it out? Not enough, else we’d not be living in such a turbulent, tumultuous world. We all have convenient excuses; you don’t know my circumstances; it’s difficult etc. But Friends, there are no gains without some kind of pain. And when life’s rough, that’s when you need God the most. Respecting and revering the Most High God fills us with a joy, a sense of peace and contentment, an enthusiasm to get up and be productive, to accomplish worthwhile things in His name. No one and nothing else in this world can boost our spirits and enrich our souls like the amazing power of Jehovah God coursing through our veins! Did I hear somebody say, Amen! (smile) But it’s true people. Bruh David describes it thus: ‘For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands:’ We’ll have productive jobs that will put sufficient food on our tables. ‘Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.’ A spirit of well being prevails within us when we constantly associate with the Lord. ‘Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.’ Wow! Our spouses will be vibrant and productive, our offspring plentiful and healthy. How much more can we ask eh Friends? But it all depends on us showing reverence, adulation and respect to our Heavenly Father; giving Him constant thanks and praise, and trodding the straight and narrow path He desires. Then, in Bruh David’s words, ‘Behold, that thus shalt the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.’ Friends, as true believers, we need to go out there and show them the power of the Lord’s spirit that dwells within us; truly live our faith. Much LOVE!…since actions speak louder than words…let’s get some action going nuh…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 February 2008 1 Samuel 2:1-4‏

29 Feb 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

1 Samuel 2:1-4    And Hannah prayed and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more exceedingly proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
 
What a wonderful prayer! Hannah was the Prophet Samuel’s mother. Barren in her youth, she was provoked and ridiculed by her husband’s other very productive wife. Back then, barrenness was considered the consequence of some great sin against God. So although her husband Elkanah loved her and gave her a healthy portion of his possessions, she refused to be consoled, driving him to claim that he was better to her than ten sons. Instead, Hannah went up to the temple and prayed to the Lord, asking Him to bless her with a son, promising that if He granted her request, no razor would ever pass his head, and he would do the Lord’s work all his life. Note her strong faith, believing that the Lord could really do what she asked. Things were so bad with Hannah, that even as she knelt there, praying quietly from her heart, her lips moving but no sound coming out, the priest Eli saw her and thought she was inebriated, and even scolded the poor woman. Note how we can quickly jump to wrong conclusions and act on them to the detriment of others. But Hannah explained her situation and Eli blessed and wished her good luck. Then Hannah went home, ate, drank and relaxed, wisely leaving the matter in God’s hands. Soon thereafter, Elkanah knew Hannah. (smile) I love that term. Nine months later, Samuel was born and Hannah said, ‘For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him.’  In return, she kept her promise, unlike many of us, who conveniently forget once our wishes are granted. At an early age, she sent him to work and study under Eli, the priest. Oh Friends, what a moving story, that also highlights all the principles of our faith: Hannah having hard times, being wrongfully judged, even when she was praying. But she, staying steadfast and faithful, praying expectantly to the Father, believing He could grant her wish. And, as we keep on reiterating, the Lord looks mercifully upon those who remain faithful through hard times. I’d like us to pay particular attention to one line of Hannah’s prayer; ‘for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.,’ meaning He reads our hearts to find out the true intentions behind our actions. Hannah’s heart must have been right, so He granted her petition. And she, in genuine gratitude, proudly announced; ‘Mine heart rejoiceth in the Lord…There is no one holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God’  Friends, truer words were never spoken. May we all be strong, faithful and true like Hannah. Much LOVE! remember…our trials…are oftimes God’s way…of testing us…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 February 2008 Zechariah 10:12

28 Feb 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Zechariah 10:12    And I will strengthen them in the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord.
 
Zechariah’s talking about the repatriation of the Jews to Jerusalem from whither the Lord had scattered them, as punishment for their disobedience. We also are partakers of that promise. Our problems may be many, and we may feel oppressed by the enemy, and forsaken by all and sundry, but take hope Friends, the Lord is a wonderful God. He says, ‘for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off; for I am the Lord their God, and I will hear them.’ Vs.6. In our times of trial, it’s necessary for us to draw as close as possible to our God; study His word and stand on His promises, so that our faith can be bolstered and our resolve to walk in obedience to Him strengthened. We’ve got to believe when we hear promises like; ‘Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee. And the Lord shall be seen over them… The Lord of hosts shall defend them… And the Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people… For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty, corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids. …their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord.’ Wow! What awesome promises Friends! And those are only from Chapters 9 and 10 of Zechariah. There are lots more to be found throughout the Good Book. That’s why we need to read it, especially when we’re feeling frail and unworthy. That’s the purpose of the Bible and the indwelling Holy Spirit; to guide and strengthen us whenever we get tired and weary from all the frustration thrown at us by this wicked world. Remember People, the enemy can never defeat us if we walk steadfastly with the Most High. Only when we let our defences down, can he infiltrate our spirit. But whenever we slip, let’s not lose hope, don’t think it’s all over, for it’s not. Just remember that the Most High God, Jehovah, the most powerful Being in the Universe, is our Lord and Saviour. He will never leave nor forsake us. Whenever we turn to Him with a sincere heart, He’ll do as He promised: ‘And I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord.’  Much LOVE!…remember people…there’s always hope…when one trusts in the Lord…so keep on trusting…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 February 2008 Ephesians 6:10-12‏

27 Feb 2008 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Ephesians 6:10-12    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
 
Great advice from Bruh Paul, my Friends. He’s warning the people of Ephesus about the great spiritual battles they would be called on to fight in their walk of faith. The physical battles would be nothing compared to the spiritual warfare, since   the powers of evil were not only potent, but also intent on achieving supreme control of the world by any means. We have the same problems today, multiplied several times over, due to our much larger, more advanced world. The forces of evil have also increased in all aspects, and now control a substantial portion of our world, which they won’t give up without a battle royal. Our job Friends, is to wrest it from their control, in the name of the Most High God, Jehovah. To do that, we need serious help and protection because the enemy is a strong, wily foe who fights dirty, with no holds barred. And we can only get that help and protection from the same High God that we’re fighting for. He’s the only one who has the ability to withstand and destroy those powerful forces of darkness. So just like those Ephesians, we’ve got to clothe ourselves with God’s armour, that’s the only way we can stand up to the enemy. And what’s this armour Bruh Paul’s talking about? He means a full suit like they used in olden times, covering from the crown of our head to the soles of our feet, with a mighty weapon in one hand and a shield in the other. Thus he advises us to have on a breastplate of righteousness; gird our loins with a skirt of truth; wear shoes of the gospel of peace on our feet; the helmet of salvation to cover our head and face; the sword of the Spirit, namely the Word of God raised triumphantly in our right hand; praying constantly and keeping watch, being on guard for the enemy’s attacks. ‘And above all the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.’ Vs.16. That’s the full armour of God. And believe me Friends, we desperately need it, if we intend to fight the powers of darkness, and the spiritual wickedness that moves in high places. It’s all around us. It’s infiltrated what we see, do, think, hear, wear, eat, drink, feel; where we work, live and play. There’s no getting away from it. But we cannot give up, we’ve got to win this fight, and the only way to do that is to stand ‘strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.’ To do that successfully means we must put on His whole protective suit of armour and go out on the battlefield wielding that mighty sword of the Word in one hand, while protecting our other flank with the impervious shield of faith. Friends, as believers, we’ve got to stand up and fight, and with the Lord’s help and protection, we shall be victorious. Much LOVE!…onward Christian soldiers…marching as to war…with the cross of Jesus…marching on before…
 

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