Know It’s Coming

Ephesians 6: ¹⁰ Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks. ¹² For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. ¹³ So put on God's armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.

 

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After moving in the house and getting all the furniture situated, we finally settled in. It was summer, so we planted flowers. I was given a lawnmower so I could cut the grass. But then winter hit. The snow came and I found myself without a shovel.

 

• I was unprepared for the season.
• I was focused only on one season, but ill prepared for another.
• I was caught off guard and found it difficult to react to the season.

 

“Build up your strength” is Paul’s warning to everyone. He had personally suffered for the purpose of spreading the love of CHRIST. People twisting his love and devaluing his motive led to extreme actions that stemmed from Satanic attacks. There was a remedy.

 

My Observations

• Unite with the LORD is the first thing GOD wants me to do.
• Put on GOD’s armor is a step HE wants me to take to become prepared for the “Devil’s evil tricks.”
• Resist the enemy’s attacks is the part of the battle GOD wants me to participate in.

 

Prepare yourself is a tough statement to hear. I mean, it’s easier to fight things and people we cannot see. We try to make sense out of the world through labels so we can understand. But life is messy because of one being, namely Satan. He wants to trick people who are not prepared and attacks those who have grown weary.

 

BUT GOD is there to help. HE provides peace in the middle of the storm. When the focus is on GOD, the waves of life die down because of HIS mighty power. All issues must bow to GOD’s authority. I gladly put on HIS armor now!

 

Challenge

• What is the true fight the writer is speaking of?
• Have you grown weary of all the battles you have faced in life?
• Will you stop fighting with your own strength, thinking you can come up with the answer and allow GOD to heal your situation, knowing you may be attacked, yet will emerge through the fire victoriously!?

Light Fixture

Light Fixture

2 Corinthians 4: ³ For if the gospel we preach is hidden, it is hidden only from those who are being lost. ⁴ They do not believe, because their minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world. He keeps them from seeing the light shining on them, the light that comes from the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. ⁵ For it is not ourselves that we preach; we preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. ⁶ The God who said, “Out of darkness the light shall shine!” is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts, to bring us the knowledge of God's glory shining in the face of Christ.

 

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Entering the dark room at night posed more of a challenge than I thought. After the move, nothing was organized. Boxes were everywhere and so was furniture. I had plugged in a light, but it was not connected to a light switch. I tripped on something hard and fell on unpacked stuff. I finally made it to the light. I switched it on and could see the mess.

 

• The light was placed where it was.
• The light was useful when it was shining.
• The light could not warn me of obstacles when it was switched off.

 

Paul speaks about Satan blinding the minds of people. Satan wants to keep people from seeing the true light so he attack’s the mind. GOD, on the other hand, placed the HOLY SPIRIT in the heart of believers. The only job for the believer is to be a light fixture.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to shine the light HE provided in the middle of the darkness.
• GOD wants me to keep HIS light shining in me so those around me will not stumble over obstacles.
• GOD wants me to preach JESUS CHRIST as LORD of my life in a way that people can hear.

 

Sometimes I think I have to do a lot of activity to please GOD. I mean, I think I have to serve on several committees, argue about the Bible, give until it hurts and cry when GOD is not meeting “my” expectations. BUT GOD feels different. HE said “MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light.”

 

He simply wants me to praise HIM for what HE did for me in the middle of my problems. HE also wants me to be thankful for “everyone” around me, even those who I have been bitter towards for years. Shining GOD’s light happens on everyone, even myself. I’m talking about forgiveness. I am glad GOD gave the gift of light to anyone who will accept it.

 

Challenge

• Have you ever felt GOD needs you to work hard?
• What does the writer say about the source of “the light?”
• Will you relax and simply “be”, so that GOD’s light can shine in you and through you today?

Crossing the finish line feels great!

Acts 28:  ²⁸ “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” ²⁹After he said this, the Jews left, arguing vigorously among themselves.

 ³⁰ For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹ He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

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Rounding the bend I could hear cheering off in the distance but I couldn’t see anyone. My legs were so tired and I was out of breath, I felt like giving up! Finally as I turned the corner I could see the crowd and I got a little renewed energy to continue.

The distance was no longer an obstacle and adrenaline shot through my body. “Maybe I can finish”, I thought. As I crossed the finish line from the race I had just run, it was exhilarating!

• Living for CHRIST is like running a race that sometimes seems too difficult to finish.
• Living for CHRIST is like running a race that seems like the enemy is winning and I am alone.
• Living for CHRIST is like running a race that seems full of obstacles that hinder me.

Paul had been wrongfully jailed and told to “shut up” his persistent discussions about JESUS. The message he presented caused riots amongst those who could not accept the Gospel. Paul appealed his sentence all the way up to Caesar and was able to present the Great News about JESUS to a much greater crowd.

After all the pain he went through, Paul was finally able to live amongst those who wanted to hear the message GOD sent. He had crossed the finish line “with boldness and without hindrance.”

• When an obstacle appears, GOD enables me to finish strong by going around it.
• When enemies attack, GOD enables me to remain in the race by praying for them.
• When life seems too difficult, GOD enables me to see HIS power as HE removes harmful things from my hands.

Freedom is what we all aspire to have and one day it is coming, but until then I would rather be chained to GOD and finish the race than continuing down a losing path.

• Are you trapped?
• Do you feel closed in?
• Can you connect your plans to GOD and finish HIS way?
• Are you willing to start over and try GOD’s plan this time?
• Are you willing to “lose” your life so you can “gain” it back, this time more fully?

What to do when being attacked.

Acts 16: ²² The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. ²³ After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴ When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

 ²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.

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Country Western and Blues seem to be how I can describe various times in my life.  You know lyrics like “my dog died”, “my horse left” and “my woman burst into flames.” It seems like there are times when I am trying my hardest to live for CHRIST yet situations come up that feel like I am being beaten with rods. What should I do?

• There are going to be times when it seems like everyone is against me.
• There are going to be times when it seems like I should give up and stop trying.
• There are going to be times when it seems like there is no way out.

Paul and Silas actually praised GOD during their beatings. Wow! You mean they were trying to live for GOD and got beat in public for trying to do what is right? YES! They were publicly humiliated and physically beat for preaching about JESUS.

• GOD does not want me to be harmed but knows I will face opposition.
• GOD does not want me to feel like giving up especially when the going gets tough.
• GOD does not want me to turn away from HIM even when I’m boxed in with no way out.

Praising GOD is amazing! I mean when all circumstances look bleak praise HIM. When everyone around you is losing their heads and blaming it on you, praise HIM. When the road seems to be invisible and speed bumps keep getting larger, praise HIM.

Paul and Silas had a miracle happen when they praise GOD in the midst of their troubles. I have seen the same happen to me.

• Are you at the end of your rope?
• Do you feel many if not all people are against you?
• Do you believe in GOD’s strange tactics?
• Have you tried praising GOD?