Armed and Dangerous (Pt.2)

 

Text: Ephesians 6:10: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Vs 11: Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Vs 12: 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. Vs 13: Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Vs 14: Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; Vs 15: And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Vs 16: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Vs 17: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: vs 18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

This is a continuation of "Armed and Dangerous" (Pt.2)

In part one I discussed having your loins girt about with truth; having on the breastplate of righteousness; your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; and above all, taking the shield of faith wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Here in part two, I’m going to discuss the helmet of salvation, the sword of the Spirit, and praying always for all saints.

Ephesians 6:17: And take the helmet of salvation.

The Helmet of Salvation

5 The Helmet was worn to protect the head, which is the center of our thought processes. A head wound is a serious matter because the rest of the body depends so heavily upon the proper functioning of the head. If the enemy gets hold of your head/mind he has the whole body.

The helmet keeps our thinking straight and protected. The power of the mind to understand along with intelligence helps to teach our faculties of the mind, and to bring those faculties under subjection to the Spirit. When I speak of faculties, I’m talking about those things which teach us. Such as perception, remembrance, reasoning, feelings, desires, imagination and purpose.

Romans 12:2 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.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: vs 6: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.

Vs 17: And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

6.    Sword of the Spirit 

Verse 17 interprets itself as to the meaning of the sword of the Spirit—it is the Word of God. While all the other pieces of armour are defensive, the sword of the Spirit is the only offensive (will affront; assault) weapon in the armour of God, and it will also defend (protect).

While the shield of faith would be held at arm’s length in the left hand and across the body to ward off blows of the enemy for defense; the right hand which is the hand of power is free to use the sword or spear for offense.

As part of the armour, God has given a weapon that is both defensive to protect and offensive to assault or attack the enemy. The sword can be used to block striking blows of the opponent, and it can be used to fight back when attacked.

Believers not only take up the sword by the power of the Holy Spirit, but they handle it, or skilfully use it, by the guiding power of the Almighty Spirit of God. Both its possession and the skill in which it’s used, are from the work of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

If you recall from Matthew chapter 4 and the Temptation of Jesus, every advance of the devil was fought with the Word of God.

In Jesus' temptations in the desert, the Word of God was always His overpowering response to Satan.

Matthew 4 Jesus said 3 times It is written!

• Vs 4: Jesus said, “It is written”! 
• Vs 7: Jesus said, “It is written”!
• Vs 10: Jesus said, “It is written”!

What a blessing people of God, that the same Word is available to us!!!    

Therefore, we need “The Word of God to combat the enemy!”    

Jesus would respond to a temptation by saying, “It is written”.

With authority and certainty, “God has said” … was His response. Because Jesus knew the Word of God to be sure and true, He proclaimed-- with trust-- the Words and Promises of God with authority and certainty.

In the wilderness, the effects of the Word in those battles were quick and powerful, ultimately bringing victory to Jesus the Christ! Same thing with you in your wilderness experiences and battles.

For that spirit of fear: Psalms 23:4 I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 

For that spirit of diseases:  Psalms 91:10: There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

 

Feeling defeated: For I AM an overcomer, and I overcome by the blood of The Lamb and The Word of my testimony.  Revelation 12:11: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

 

Sickness:  Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In Revelations 19:11- when John saw heaven open and the white horse and he that sat upon him was called faithful and true and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.  Vs 12: His eyes were as a flame of fire (God’s messengers with the Word of God, because our God is a consuming fire) and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. Vs 13: And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called THE WORD OF GOD. Vs 15: And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron…. with fierceness and wrath of ALMIGHTY GOD! Hallelujah!!!

John was seeing the church; the Living Word of God that was riding on the white horse in the earth. God was getting ready to ride through the church with this vesture that is dipped in His blood. We (the church of born again believers) are His vesture (himat'ion)[dress; garment; raiment], that have been dipped in His blood. How so? We are the ones that gives Him is body now of which He is the Head:

• Ephesians 5:30: We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones! 
• Colossians 1:18: And he is the head of the body, the church.
• Hebrews 9:12, "Neither the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us": vs 22: "Without the shedding of blood is no remission".

John was seeing in the Spirit the church that had arrived at the place of being total over-comers by the power of the Holy Ghost.  And through “Christ” the written word has become the Living Word and riding forth with that double-edged sword coming out of our mouths and cutting asunder the soul from the Spirit to show the people of God the truth in the earth to come to the totality and the fullness of God!

The sword has a sharp double edge. One side representing the law, the other the Gospel. The law side cuts open the soul revealing sin and depravity. The Gospel side cuts open the heart, mind, and will of man exposing his unrighteousness and inability to do any good in and of himself— the deep cuts of this edge reveal the need for a righteous Savior.

The sharp sword cuts away man’s delusions of his own goodness bringing forth the sins that lies beneath— which brings conviction, reproof, judgement, and the knowledge of the just punishment due those sins— which brings man to his knees to acknowledge what must I do to be saved!

As the light of God beams from the shining sword it brings to light the darkness of sin. It is used to refute and repel the temptations of Satan. And from the sword emanates truth that discerns false doctrines and heresies, dividing truth from error.

It speaks of the holiness and power of the Word of God.

The full armour of God—truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer—are the tools God has given us, through which we can be spiritually victorious, overcoming Satan’s attacks and temptations. These pieces of armour allow us to withstand! To withstand is having the ability to hold your position; to resist or stand face to face with your adversary

BUT: I must speak not only for withstanding, but also for standing. When you’re left standing…that’s the ability to win the fight.

But, for us to STAND THEREFORE: There are two more pieces of armour that are vitally important for the armour in Ephesians 6 to fit properly. Remember, we also need:

The offensive and aggressive equipment in “The Armour of Light", Paul speaks of in Romans:

• Romans 13:12: The night is far spent; the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light.

This “light” is from the root word “phos”, denoting “light as reaching the mind” that expresses “knowledge” – having the mind of Christ, thinking as He thinks and seeing as He sees by having the “single eye”.

•  Matthew 6:22: If therefore, thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light!  

 First of all, we need light to see where we are going: 

• Psalm 119:105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path:

And its truth that will make us free: 

• John 8:32: You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  

The other offensive and aggressive equipment which will enable you to stand is for the back, which is found in 2 Corinthians 6:7; “the Armour of Righteousness”

• 2nd Corinthians 6:7: By the “word of truth”, by the power of God, by the “armour of righteousness” on the right hand and on the left.

For without these two pieces of armour, “light” and “righteousness/truth”, the armour in Ephesians 6 will not fit properly!  

Having the “The Sword of the Spirit” which is “the Word of God with truth” is receiving that which God teaches us by His Spirit and us speaking not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual!!

•  1st Corinthians 2:13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 
•  John 16:13: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come (present tense), he will guide you into all truth.

So, people of God, put on the whole armour of God – the defensive equipment, that ye may be able to withstand against the wiles of the devil: but also, the offensive and aggressive equipment, which will enable you having done all, to stand therefore!!! 

God has already caught your enemies from behind, because He has equipped us with the full gear of the whole armour of God! He has dressed us with the Robe of Righteousness, which is the armour of righteousness. He has covered your back with the Word of Truth, the Power of God and the Armour of Righteousness!!!

That makes us Armed and Extremely Dangerous!!!

Assistant Pastor Jackie Burton

The Two Great Lights! (Pt.1)

Text: Genesis 1:14: And God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night:  and let them be for signs and for seasons, for days, and years”.  Vs 15: “And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth”:  and it was so.  Vs 16: And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night:  he made the stars also.  Vs 17: and God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.  Vs 18: And to rule over the day and over the night, and divide the light from the darkness:  and God saw that it was good.  Vs 19: And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

When you talk about the “two great lights” in relation to the elements of creation, God made the “sun” and the “moon”.

The Sun is more important to man than any other object in the sky, though it is only one of billions of stars in the universe. All life on the earth --- man, animals, and plants, depends on the heat, light, and other kinds of energy given off by the sun.  Like the earth, the sun spins like a top.  And, just as the earth revolves around the sun, the sun revolves around the center of the Milky Way galaxy [includes the Solar System, with the name describing the galaxy’s appearance from Earth:  a hazy band of light seen in the night sky formed from stars that cannot be individually distinguished by the naked eye].

These two great lights I’m speaking of here are not the sun, and moon that we see out in the sky.  Though we know that they were all given for times, signs and seasons, but the scripture, in Genesis 1:16 is in relation to the aspect of the Kingdom of God. 

The Sun typifies the light, life, and power of the Almighty God.  Just as the earth need the light, life, and power of the Sun, to bring forth vegetation and all man needs to live in this realm of the universe, we need the light, life, and power of the Son of God to live in this realm of the universe eternally.

The moon symbolizes the devil, which has no light of its own.  The only light the moon has is what it gets from the sun.  The only power the devil has is what God allows him to have.

And the stars are God’s people:  Revelation 1:20: The mystery of the seven stars which thou saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks.  The seven stars are the angels (messengers) of the seven churches.

That’s why the Psalmist said, in Psalm 150:1: Praise ye the LORD.  Praise God in his sanctuary:  praise him in the firmament of his power.

The firmament is the raqi’ya, which is an expanse (great extent):  and His power is His oz, which is God’s strength (force, majesty, might).  So, he was saying, for us to praise Him  in the expanse (breadth; extent) of His full strength (force; majesty; might), because we are the lights (God’s people) that are to give praise unto our God. 

·       Matthew 5:14: You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

·       1^st Thessalonians 5:5: You are all the children (sons) of light, and the children of the day:  we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Genesis 1:3, when God said, “Let there be light”, He wasn’t talking about “daylight” as pertaining to the light from the sun.  If you want to get technical, that “light” (in relation to day light) wasn’t put in place until the fourth day.  Here, in the first day, God is saying “Let there be light”!  That’s because the “light” He was speaking of at this time, in Genesis 1:3, was “knowledge” that He was about to bring forth in His people that He was going to call Adam. 

That word “light” in Genesis 1:3, is from the Hebrew word owr (ore), defined as illumination; luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc): bright; to be (make) luminous; glorious; kindle, (be, en, give, show) light (ened); set on fire; shine.

Illumination is spiritual or intellectual enlightenment (freedom from ignorance; prejudice; to inform); clarification (make [a statement or situation] less confused and more clearly comprehensible).  A luminary is a person who inspires or influences others, especially one prominent in a particular sphere.

Adam was a group of luminaries.  Adam was a group of people composed of both male and female, that God created and made in His own image and after His likeness with His wisdom, knowledge, understanding, dominion, authority, and power in them to be His ambassadors or representatives in the earth. 

·       Genesis 5:1: This is the book of the generations of Adam.  In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him:  vs 2: Male and female created he them:  and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

Being in the image of God, these people would show forth God’s character in the earth, and being in His likeness, they would function or operate in His power over the earth. 

So the “light” God brought forth at that time was people named Adam (male/female) that He made to be “lights” in the earth manifesting His glory!!

The same God then, is the same God now!  1^st Corinthians 15:47, “The first man is of the earth, earthy:  the second man is the Lord from heaven”.

Adam at that time was “the light of the world”.   Jesus when He walked the earth said that He was “the light of the world” (John 8:12).  Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world:  a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid”.

The Apostle Paul said, Ephesians 5:8 “For you were sometimes in darkness, but now are you light in the Lord:  walk as children of light”.

This “light” (phos), which we are become, which is the “Light” (phos) that God Himself is, cannot be kindled (lit by the hands of others), neither can it be quenched (extinguished).  But the “light” (luchnos) as in Matthew 5:15 that states, “Neither do men light (luchnos) a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candle stick, and it gives light to all that are in the house”, has to be kindled or lit and extinguished by the hands of others.

Paul also wrote in 1^st Thessalonians 5:5, “You are all children (sons) of light and the children (sons) of the day:  we are not of the night, nor of darkness (skot’os) [shadiness; obscurity] / (ski’a) [shade or a shadow; darkness of error].

So these “lights in the firmament of heaven” in Genesis 1:14 are people.  The Psalmist said, “Praise God in the firmament of His power”.  So we must remember that there is nothing out in the sky that can give verbal praise to God, only people can do that! 

Genesis 1:14: “Let there be lights in the firmament (raqi’ya) [an expanse (extent; breadth); visible arch of the sky] of the heaven”.

Heaven in Hebrew is shama’yin, meaning to be lofty.  When you define heaven in the Greek, it is ouranos’, meaning elevation [promotion; advancement]; heaven (as the abode of God); happiness; power; eternity; the gospel [good news]; Christianity.

Either way you look at it, whether out of Hebrew or Greek heaven is an elevated place, a high place!

God said, “Let these lights be in the expanse of my abode called heaven, to divide (badal’) [separate; distinguish; differ; select:  (make, put) difference; divide (asunder), (make) separate (self, ation); sever (out)] the day (yowm) [to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether from sunrise to sunset or from one sunset to the next; a space of time; age; always; chronicles; continually (ance); daily; (for) ever (lasting; more); full; life; as (so) long as (live); perpetually; presently; remaineth; season]  from the night” (la’yil) [a twist (away of the light); adversity; (mid) night season].

It is “heaven” today that’s making the difference between the sons of the day and those that are of the night.

·       Romans 13:12 [Paul said]: The night is far spent, the day is at hand:  let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Night in the Greek here is nux [midnight].  Night in Hebrew is la’yil [a twist (away of the light), night; (fig) adversity; midnight].

So, the “night that’s far spent” is the advance state of the world’s (including religion) spiritual gross darkness of moral depravity or corruption, due to the absence of the light of Christ shining forth in God’s people.

Day in Greek is hemer’a, meaning (to sit); tame; gentle; also, immovable: settled; steadfast; an age; period; day (ly).

When something is tamed, that means it’s domesticated (disciplined, trained, and not wild or fierce).   To be gentle is having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament or character, moderate in action, and calm.

Paul was saying, though gross darkness, moral depravation and corruption was present, yet the “day” (Christ), was present, to deliver.  All we have to do is trust Him and don’t be shaken by what’s going on around us, but remain settled, immovable, and steadfast in the Word of God!!  Peter himself said:

•       2nd Peter 1:19: We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where unto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts (kardi’a) [thoughts; feeling (mind); middle (core of one’s being).

So what day is it, that’s at hand?  The “Day star”, Jesus the Christ!  Day star here is the root word phosphor’os, meaning, light-bearing, morning star. 

Jesus said of Himself:  Revelation 22:16: “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star”.

Remember, God’s definition of Day is inclusive of more than just time.  Day in God’s language is not just tied to a twenty four hour period. 

·       2^nd Peter 3:8, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day”.

Listen, outside of Jesus Christ, there is no other day.  He is the “first day” and the “last day”. 

·       Revelation 1:8: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, said the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty”:  vs 11: “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last”:  vs 17: “Fear not; I am the first and the last”.

This "day" is the manifestation of the new man, the Christ man coming forth in us: 

·       2^nd Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away, behold all things are made new.

Paul finishes that verse in Romans 13:12 by saying, “Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness [obscurity; darkness of error; ignorance; misery; destruction; death; etc], and let us put on the armour (hop’lon) [(to be busy about); an implement; utensil; or tool, especially offensive (actively aggressive; attacking) for war; instrument; weapon] of light (phos) [to shine, or make manifest, by rays; luminousness; fire; light] (as reaching the mind].

This “phos light” is the light that God Himself is!  This “light” can’t be turned on by a switch or lit by a match; it can’t be quenched (extinguished), neither can it cease to shine.  That’s because it’s eternal, because God is Light and He is Eternal!

·       1^st John 1:5-7: This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness (skoti’a) [dimness, obscurity]/(skot’os) [darkness of error] at all.

The armour (panopli’a) [full armor: all (whole) armour] in Ephesians 6 is a bit different from this armour in Romans 13:12 and 2^nd Corinthians 6:7.  The “armour” in Romans and Corinthians is hop’lon, which is an implement, utensil, or tool that’s offensive for war; an instrument; weapon.  The “armour” in Ephesians is “panopli’a”, which is the full armour or all (whole) armour. 

Therefore, even having on all the armour (panopli’a) in Ephesians 6, for those pieces of armour to fit properly and work perfectly, we need the armour (hop’lon) of righteousness which is our covering:  Revelation 19:7: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him:  for the marriage of the Lamb is come (present tense), and his wife hath made herself ready.  Vs 8: And to her was granted that she should be arrayed (dressed) in fine linen, clean and white:  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints:  AND ALSO we need the armour (hop’lon) of light, which is us being illumined with God’s mind to demonstrate His power and authority in the earth. 

Being, we are members of Christ’s Body (Ephesians 5:30), that makes us instruments of righteousness (Romans. 6:13), unto God, shining with the light of His glory in the earth as Christ did!  1^st John 4:17: As he is, so are we, in this world!!

This is the “light” we are become through Christ Jesus.  He said to His disciples: 

·       Matthew 5:14: You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

So we must let this “light shine” in us!  Ephesians 5:8: For you were sometimes in darkness, but now are you light in the Lord:  walk as children of light.

This “light” that we are to walk in is the same “light” that Adam had in the beginning.

·       St. John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  Vs 2: The same was in the beginning with God.  vs 3: All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.  Vs 4: In him was life; and the life (Zoe) [eternal; everlasting] was the light (phos) [fire; illumination (knowledge)] of men.  Vs 5: The light shined in darkness; and the darkness comprehended (katalamban’o) [to take eagerly, seized, possessed; apprehended, come upon; attained; find; overtake; obtained] it not.

In the Greek Lexicon, comprehend means, that the darkness could not lay hold of, seize, possess, or apprehend (arrest) the light.  The darkness took hold of the man (Adam) that had the light of God in him, but it could not lay hold of the Light itself.  God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all (1^st John 1:5).  When physical light is turned on, the darkness can only come to the perimeter of the light, it can’t touch the light itself.  How much more God, who is light!!!

So because we are sons of light, we must manifest God's light!!

·       1^st Thessalonians 5:5: You are all the children (hui’os) [the essence of God Himself:  made in His image, after His likeness]:  and the children of the day:  we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  Vs 6: Therefore let us not sleep (katheu’do) [fall asleep; be dead], as do others: but let us be sober (ne’pho) [be discreet; watch] (free from the influence of religious order).  Vs 7: For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken (methu’o) [to drink to intoxication] in the night.

This “intoxication” has nothing to do with wine or any alcoholic beverage, but it is the drinking of the “toxic” religious poisoning that has been given to the body of Christ for years:  Beware (be on guard), lest any man spoil you through philosophy, vain deceit, traditions of men, rudiments of the world, and not after Christ, as Paul stated, Colossians 2:8.

In other words they are operating under what Genesis 1:16, calls the “lesser light” that rules the night [the powers of darkness or the devil] and not the “greater light” that rules the day [the power of the light of Jesus the Christ]!!

That’s why Paul said in Ephesians 5:14:  Awake (egei’ro) [collect one’s faculties, so as to waken, be roused (from spiritual lethargy; disease; death; obscurity; ruin)] thou that sleepest (katheu’do) [fall asleep; spiritual death], and arise (anis’temi) [stand up (right); lift up] [change position]  from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light (epiphau’o) [to illuminate] (to make visible or bright by shining light on; help to clarify or explain] (make less confused and more clearly comprehensible) [the revelation truth of God’s Word].

·       Romans 12:2: Be you transformed by the renewing of your mind (nous) [thoughts; feelings; will; understanding], that you may prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

·       1^st Corinthians 2:16: But we have the mind (same as above) of Christ.

·       Philippians 2:5: Let this mind (phrone’o) (exercise; entertainment; disposition; earnest direction] be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

·       1^st Peter 1:13: Gird up the loins of your mind (dian’oia) (deep thought).  

     In other words, it's time for the people of God to get off of the milk and start eating some meat! 

• Hebrews 5:12: When for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God: and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. vs 13: For everyone that uses milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he  is a babe. vs 14: But strong meat belong to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

When we walk in the “Greater Light”, then, we will fulfill 1^st John 2:10: “He that loves his brother abides in the light [the light that God Himself is] and there is none occasion of stumbling (skan’dalon) [trap-stick; snare; cause of displeasure or sin; occasion to fall (stumble; offence)] in him”.

So let “the Greater Light”, shine continuously through you, so that Christ, who is “The Light” can be seen and glorified in you!!

Pastor Gracie Perry