Sunday, July 27, 2008

Weapons of Mass ... Spiritual Power

Amazing weapons of mass destruction are all around us. Makes us feel open to much fear and a deep feeling of what can one person do? We hear of people stabbing people they do not even know who have a deep dissatisfaction with life. If one person wanted to do something, they might want to get a Bullet proof off-to-war suit, or a sure-fire proof suit. Maybe you are interested in not standing out in the crowd with a anti-bullet suit, so you can wear a go-to-the-office-bullet-proof overcoat and jacket or a special Jewish all-in-one gun for more of a personal defence mode.

On the web, you could get a Laser gun for only $1750 or buy plans for a Class IV Laser for $15.00 (light weight and hand held...just don’t trip!)

Or for the more than you ever need defense, the “Laser of Lead” ~ An Australian inventor has married ballistics with electronics and come up with a machine gun capable of firing 1 million rounds a minute.

Or maybe the Metal Storm Variable Lethality Law Enforcement (VLE) pistol is right for you. Light weight and shoots light. The web site did not report how to order it or the cost...

It gets to the point of when you need to ask: is it too big, too costly, too powerful, too dangerous or just plan wrong, if that is a concern for weapon makers...

Weapons of Mass --- Spirituality and Power

When it comes to the Christian life, we are told about putting on the armor of light.

Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

ローマの信徒への手紙 / 13章 12節
夜は更け、日は近づいた。だから、闇の行いを脱ぎ捨てて光の武具を身に着けましょう。

or more armor from Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

エフェソの信徒への手紙 / 6章 /10-18
10: 最後に言う。主に依り頼み、その偉大な力によって強くなりなさい。11:悪魔の策略に対抗して立つことができるように、神の武具を身に着けなさい。12:わたしたちの戦いは、血肉を相手にするものではなく、支配と権威、暗闇の世界の支配者、天にいる悪の諸霊を相手にするものなのです。13:だから、邪悪な日によく抵抗し、すべてを成し遂げて、しっかりと立つことができるように、神の武具を身に着けなさい。14:立って、真理を帯として腰に締め、正義を胸当てとして着け、15:平和の福音を告げる準備を履物としなさい。16:なおその上に、信仰を盾として取りなさい。それによって、悪い者の放つ火の矢をことごとく消すことができるのです。17:また、救いを兜としてかぶり、霊の剣、すなわち神の言葉を取りなさい。18:どのような時にも、“霊”に助けられて祈り、願い求め、すべての聖なる者たちのために、絶えず目を覚まして根気よく祈り続けなさい。

For the past few weeks, we have talked about Prayer and Fasting. These, we said, have been part of the Believer’s arsenal for a long time. In fact, they are part of a group of weapons called Spiritual Disciplines. There may be a feeling of “Oh no, exercise, discipline, rules, list of “I HAVE TOs”! But, no. Spiritual Disciplines can be our friends.

Internal disciplines: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, and Study.
External: Simplicity, Stewardship, Solitude, Submission, Service, and Evangelism.

To better handle these disciplines, we would need Jesus in our life.
Know that you are a sinner in need of a Savior...
Know that He has provided a way-through Jesus...
Know that He has made us to be alive with Him...
Know that His Way for you to Know Him is through Jesus...
Know that He died for you and offers you forgiveness in HIS Name...
Jesus said: I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. No one can come to the Father except through Me.

Now, grow in that relationship. How?? The Weapons of Mass Spirituality and Power.

Put on the armor He has for you. Let’s go through them one at a time and let’s see how it feels.

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We are in a battle--no one is off the front lines. Some people are more front line than others..i.e. Martyrs see Voice Of the Martyrs @ Persecution.COM

We are all in the battle as the evil one is seeking us out.

1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
John 17: 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

Our role in this Walk of Faith is to be ready at all times to both defend the Faith and to make a stand for the faith. Paul gives us serious instructions to PUT IT ON!

The battle is real: Parents, put on the armor of faith so you can protect your children. Husbands: put on the Armor of God so you can defend your family.

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
Holds up your spiritual stuff. Faith with Truth is powerful.

with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Guards the heart--center of emotion/faith/conscience/ Dealing with inner integrity!
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Only from the front. No reverse...no turning around...no turning back...forward into the battle.

The VICTORY has already been won at the Cross when Jesus died for you...in your place...He took your guilt on Him and paid the price for your freedom and forgiveness.

17 Take the helmet of salvation and
Guards the mind--Have this mind in you which is also in Christ Jesus--obedience.

A Believer does not have a dead mind. We don't stop thinking whe we believe in Jesus. Our mind become in tune with the One who made it. There is unity of heart and mind.

the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Don’t go anywhere without the Bible! It needs to be the center of any personal relationship! (As in dating...believer to believer is the Biblical way.) The Bible needs to be in the center of any working relationship. Read it often--over time, it will cause you to think His thoughts and effect your moods. Allow that to happen. Every one here today (or reading this blog) needs a mind change--about something in your life, believe me. The Word of God will direct your steps and guide you along Life’s Way of Faith.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

PROBLEM: Luke 11:22
But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.
If the armor you are using for protection IS NOT JESUS, you are not being protected. You need His Power, you need His Spirit, you need HIM!

KEEP THE ARMOR CLOSE TO YOU! Own it. Protect yourself. Give yourself to Him!