Month: December 2023

Continuing our study on the armor. We just concluded our study on the Helmet. Our beliefs, thoughts, actions, and how we relate to people and our environment, including hardships and blessings, all start in our mind – the Helmet. And in tough times, our thoughts determine our willingness to fight and how determined we are to fight. Also, it has everything to do with how well we handle our ONLY offensive weapons, sword and dagger (in some passages where the word is translated as a sword, it means a dagger). 

Because of our Helmet, we are equipped with courageous thinking, rightly discerning the situation and the truth of scripture that applies. We know that our life does not just exist here, and because of that, we will fight courageously for Heaven’s values. Valuing that which our Father values, we will rule over our flesh. What good is our sword if it is not wielded with speed, strength, and determination to win? It’s of no value, and we will lose the fight. All that comes from our mind is protected and directed by the Helmet of Salvation. 

Here’s an easy example of how the Helmet works. Say you are going on vacation to a tropical island where you will swim, snorkel, etc., but you love donuts. The last thing you want to do is gain a few pounds. You may go to the gym more and eat more salads. Why does the behavior change? Because the thought of going on a tropical vacation affects your eating habits. You want to look good in your bathing suit. The Helmet of Salvation works the same. The Truth of God’s Word in us affects how we engage with the world. That’s why we are admonished to know God’s Word (Joshua 1). Suppose we know the Word, how to conduct ourselves, what to think, and what to reject. As we study God’s Word, we are equipped to defeat any thought contrary to God’s Word. 

Psalms 119:10-11

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

This is ideal, hiding God’s Word in our hearts and minds. Unfortunately, too many have not done this, and we eat the donuts. 

Picking up from the last Vida…God’s dialogue with Solomon. 

2 Chronicles 1:12

Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

Would we not want God to say this to us? What did Solomon say to God for God to say this to him? Such a huge blessing. Most of us can handle adversity much better than blessings. The expression that the younger generation uses when something is super active, for example, your cell phone, instead of saying what I normally say, “It’s ringing off the hook,” they say, “Your cell phone is blowing up.” Well, that happens to us when we seek the blessing without the character to support it.  

We “blow up” like a balloon filled with pride. We take the credit for ourselves and become prideful; we fail to be grateful. Acknowledging that this blessing God has bestowed on me for me to bestow on others. This mindset keeps us from “blowing up .”We are stewards of His blessings, not owners. Without proper character development, which God seeks to do through the trials, we will instinctively take ownership of God’s blessings. He will lose intimacy with us as we allow pride to invade our hearts, making us “secular Christians,” which many of us are now, wanting Christ (so we think) and the world. If you are in this position or want to keep a check on your heart so you do not become a secular believer, read Revelation 3:13-20. It will open your heart and eyes to the trap that awaits each of us.

So, what was the prayer that Solomon prayed? It was a prayer that came from his deepest being.

2 Chronicles 1:9-12

Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude( God’s promise to Abraham fulfilled). 

Give me now wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in before this person (this is an expression for proper leadership), for who can judge this — thy people, that is so great?

And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, (the purpose of trials is to bring out what is in our heart) and thou hast not asked for riches, wealth, or honor, nor — the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge — my people, over whom I have made thee king. Therefore, wisdom and knowledge are granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like. 

King David’s life (his father) profoundly affected Solomon. Unfortunately, Solomon departed from his fear of God in his later years. A serious caution, many start well but finish poorly. We must never allow ourselves to escape the Word of God, for it teaches us to always fear God. 

Most of the time, what is in our hearts is self-serving. It becomes most apparent in times of testing. Bad attitudes, impatience, selfishness, etc., all rise to the surface in the heat of a trial. We become angry, foul-mouthed, loud, etc., as things do not go our way upon seeing that in us we have a decision to make. We can own our bad attitudes, stop blaming others, and confess it to the Lord, at which point God will forgive us and begin the process of cleansing our heart, or we can ignore it and/or justify it and continue down this road for as long as we like. We will make ourselves and those around us miserable. It’s our choice.

God’s method is straightforward when we decide to change and humble ourselves before God. A repentant heart combined with God’s Word defeats mountains of sin in our lives. For example, say anger is one of our problems; James 1:19-21 would be the only one of the scriptures to memorize, asking the Holy Spirit to apply this truth to our hearts until we see victory in this area. 

James 1:19-21

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and abundance 

of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which can save your souls.

Back to our question of what Solomon said to The Lord. Solomon’s request is a great prayer, for it is completely selfless, truly seeking God’s honor (a key to a good prayer). As mothers or fathers, we could pray this prayer for raising our children or grandchildren correctly, even including our work. As a boss, manager, or lead person, I pray this so that I would be a Godly example to them. It would be such an awesome prayer. We don’t have to be a King to seek to rule, manage, and raise kids so that God is honored.

Solomon felt overwhelmed by his duty (the fear of God causes you to want to do the task at hand in an excellent way), and it causes you to see your limitations. Therefore, the smart thing to do is to humbly request help from The Lord. Solomon requested help from the God of his father (the importance of a godly example cannot be underestimated). When we feel overwhelmed, though it is a very uncomfortable feeling, it is a good place to be with God. Our prayers will not be casual; they will be intentional and earnest, coming from the depths of our hearts. The real me and the real you. Solomon’s prayer was just that, and it pleased God. Would it be to God that when we pray, and regardless of what we pray, when we finish, it would be that our motive would be that God would be honored? For if He is honored, we, too, would be honored. That’s exactly what God did with Solomon, and it is what God does with us. I feel so honored by His love and that He is involved in the simplest details of my life that I want to bring Him honor. 

On a practical level, here’s an example of a prayer; “God, would You be honored as I deal with my boss or as I deal with my ex., or my child’s teacher, or a fellow employee, or help me to steward my finances in a way that honors You (2 Cor. 9:11-13) and give as You have asked me to do (remember disobedience in our finances affects the rest of our life with Him. How can He trust us with measures of anointing if we cannot trust Him with our finances). Would it be that people would not just see a man or a woman who speaks religion but has the presence of the Holy Spirit in them? 

***If then this becomes our prayers, the armor of the spirit and the gifts that come with being God’s child will be impactful and useful. Knowing that we are stewards of His gifts and not owners makes us more careful to honor God. It’s God’s Word in us that keeps developing our character so as to be able to handle current and future blessings and challenges. The Word causes us to value the Giver of the gifts and not the gifts. And the Word also allows us to develop in humility, causing me to think Big of God, and in meekness, causing me to think small of myself. The two most important characteristics are period and also the two least prayed for. However, there is not a man or woman greatly used by God who does not possess these characteristics. Look at all the men and women from history who were ambassadors for God; they all possessed humility and meekness and valued them above all else. 

For without them, continued intimacy with God is alluded. In fact, further progression into the Heart of God is unattainable, but with them, there is no limit to how close we can become. As we mature, it is no longer an option to seek Him or not, but as one who has become desperate for His presence, so we seek Him. For example, being blamed for the death of my brother would have destroyed me. Where would I have gone to escape such pain? In a bar drinking to escape the pain, or how many divorces would I have had by now? I have been married to Lisa for 43 years. The pain that could have ruined me has only made me seek Christ more intently. If you struggle with trauma of any kind, would you please, please, heed my words and stop blaming God for your tragic event? He cried and cried with you. 

John 11:33-36

When Jesus, therefore, saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

He was not the cause of Lazarus’ death nor the cause of our pain and trauma. The awful truth is that we live in a fallen world that has rejected God, and all people, not just you or I, suffer/experience pain because of it. Our world is not the world He made. Continued bitterness or blame only keeps you from being free and filled with His love and hope. You may not understand the incidents in your life as yet, but because of my pain, I have come to know Him as my most intimate friend. We can either let the pain drive us to Him or from Him; it’s up to us. Getting this right not only frees me but also means I can offer Him to others, as I do with Vida. 

Trials prove the genuineness of our Faith. 

Before we blame Him for our pain, look to His Cross and see the pain He underwent to redeem us from this temporal life, to make us right with our Heavenly Father for [Eternity]. If we do this, there is no way pity can govern us or put a wedge between us and God. As He meets us in our desperate times, we become marked by His love and experience His faithfulness. He becomes part of our story. 

Our Shield of Faith

Hebrews 11:1“By Faith”

Now, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (that’s exactly what Abraham did. He believed he was going to have a son, though Sarah was not pregnant and very old.

Romans 4:19-21

And being not weak in Faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in Faith, giving glory to God;

Being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was also able to perform.

KlWhy is Faith likened to our shield and breastplate (though the breastplate in Ephesians is our righteousness, righteousness comes from Faith)? Both armors, the shield, and the breastplate, protected the soldier from fiery arrows, spears, swords, etc. And what protects us from our “arrows.” The trials and difficulties are the circumstances that the enemy uses to discourage us and whisper to us that God does not care. He wants to lure us into doubt and distrust. If we believe, the doubt pulls us away from God, which is his intent, so as to defeat us. The wolf always seeks to separate a lamb away from the flock; therefore, the more we know of God’s promises and His character, the better equipped we will be to quench satan’s lies and navigate the difficult times of our lives. 

So all this works, our armor, walking by Faith, trusting, etc., or literally falls apart if we are not in God’s Word. It is the foundation for all the armor. Not great sermons, though they are very helpful, no doubt, and not Christian friends, though without them life would be hard, but time spent between you and the Lord, alone, allowing Him to speak to your heart through His Word. That is what Jesus meant by a Wise Builder( Matthew 7). He or she who hears the Words of Righteousness and applies them to his or her life will stand against the winds and the waves of life. 

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.

In the end, the shield of Faith and the breastplate of righteousness grow and develop in us as we spend time knowing the Lord. It is not hard to have Faith if you know the person from whom you are seeking help. If you don’t know the person, be it the Lord or someone else, then life will be much harder than it needs to be for you. 

Father, 

Thank you for this study. Help us to understand that it was only when Mary broke the alabaster jar that the costly aroma came out and filled the room. You want your aroma in us to come out to the people around us, in our family, at work, wherever our life takes us, so let us be willing to be broken for You as You were for us. Do all this in us… thank you, and Amen. 

“Broken bread feeds the multitude, bread that stays whole feeds only one, ourselves.”

Your son by Grace,

Arthur 

In our last Vida, we discussed the supercritical Helmet of Salvation and the Shield of Faith. These are cool terms, “I’m putting on my helmet,” but how do they work out in my life? Good question, because we don’t go around wearing a helmet or carrying a shield. They are symbolic, but they, like all weaponry, refer to solid decisions that we make. It’s like updating your iPhone. It’s the same phone, but the programming has been upgraded. It does something more that it didn’t do previously. The spiritual armor works the same; it updates our spirit man, enabling them to be more proficient in the art of war and hence allowing us to live more righteous lives. 

I will tell you how they work for me. Remember, I’ve been a believer all my adult life, so having a history with Christ has its benefits. For example, you can say, “I’ve seen this Goliath before, or have had financial concerns before, or have had to look for a job before, and in all these trials, He has been faithful. And remember, in a trial, S.T.O.P : Stop the panic, worry, and fretting, and Take the Opportunity to Pray and recall His promises. Christ was faithful before, and He will be faithful again. Remember, He willingly went to the Cross in obedience to His Father for us; how much more will He care for us now? We took our Goliath down once before, twice, etc., and by Christ’s strength, we can take him down again. How do we do it? We use the armor provided by the Holy Spirit. 

Ephesians 6:10-18

The Christian’s Armor

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might (note the emphasis, in the power of His might, not yours or mine).

Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (wiles – the method of taking down prey. Satan knows our weaknesses and lust and knows how to bait us)

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 (our battles are spiritual, so we fight spiritually using God’s Word. In our strength we are no match):

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. Stand therefore, having the Belt of Truth (foundational truth Acts 4:12 no other name…) and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And put on the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

So when I’m troubled, stressed, or not having a good day, I purposely remember the helmet of salvation (this is where training pays off). It reminds me that here is not my home, and the problem I’m dealing with, however grave, is defeatable, or I’ll outlive it. I saw a movie with Ben Affleck, and the setting was World War II. Every time things became challenging, you would see him pull out a picture of his girlfriend, and seeing her gave him strength for the next thing he had to do. That hope of going home gave him the strength and the desire to fight courageously to make it home. That’s precisely what the Helmet of Salvation does for us. It keeps us grounded and focused. Way too many believers get caught up in the concerns and affairs of this life, living as though this is all there is, that here is all that matters. That’s how you lose the war of spiritual purity and intimacy with Christ. My three favorite “Helmet” verses are….

Philippians 3:20

For our citizenship is in heaven; from whence also we look to (and for) the Lord Jesus Christ: (this is a strong mindset that the helmet of salvation gives us).

1 Peter 1:13 

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming ( this is how the helmet of salvation affects our minds; it gives us a true and accurate hope for our future, a true north). 

2 Peter 3:11

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness (our hope should regulate our conduct)? 

In studying these verses, we see that the Helmet of Salvation is a mindset. You and I are ambassadors of a righteous nation, a completely different country with opposite values, and we are here to represent those values. Via God’s Word, we are anchoring our minds to the Truth, which is the structure and framework of that Nation. If we obey them, they help us to represent our King fully. That Truth helps us through the ups and downs in this life. To live life with minimal regrets because of God’s Word in us is incredible. 

The parable of wise and foolish builders is a good example. One who built his house on the sand had no desire to represent anyone but himself, and the one who built his house on the rock was the one who did not lose sight of his purpose or calling. This parable, as simple as it is, exemplifies a vital truth and a grave warning. 

Matthew 7:24-27

Build on a Firm Foundation (Luke 6:47-49)

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock (in scripture the rock represents Christ).

And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it (great is mega in the Greek, massive, overwhelming, large) and very sad because it didn’t need to be. 

What was the difference between the two builders? They both knew how to build, but their expectations and the foundation they built on were different. The foolish builder felt that life was all going to be okay. As far as he was concerned, he had just purchased beachfront property, the best the world had to offer. There’s no need to go through all that extra work digging in rock for his footings; that’s for the super paranoid. The wise builder knew building on the rock was more work, but he also knew the ocean (representing humanity and its values) was not to be trusted. 

As beautiful and inviting as the ocean was, it was unpredictable, and trusting it would be foolish (Christ never trusted man because He knew the heart of man. From loving him one moment to calling for his Crucifixion the next). So, the wise builder was willing to put in the extra work, and as we know, it paid off. He listened to wisdom, which is what Christ’s words are. Living for this world and for all its pleasures, disregarding anything Christ has said or done, is to be a foolish builder. A funny saying comes to mind; “get all you can, can what you get, then sit on the can.” In essence, living for anything or anyone except for Christ is the attitude of those who ignore His Words. 

We are foolish to believe that there is no God when His handiwork is all around. We have the testimony of the scriptures, and to not do an honest investigation of what is written is to do ourselves a Great Disservice. The Bible can defend itself if one comes with an honest heart, an open heart to want to learn and not to accuse or find fault. To believe we see it all and understand it all is foolishness. And to disregard the life of Christ, His claims, teachings, and miracles, and then on top of that, the Crucifixion, as though it meant nothing, that there was no purpose to it, is to be a very, very foolish builder. 

Nothing is more potent than Truth, for the Author of the Truth is The Eternal God, The Great I AM, Creator Of Heaven and Earth. Every armor we are to wear and use is tied to verses in His Word and has the power of God Himself via the Holy Spirit. Just like Michael, the Arc angel did not rebuke satan in his own strength but said the Lord rebuke you, pronouncing the Holy name of God; Kurios (meaning Lord and Master) is also how we are to fight our fights.

Jude 1:9

Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, did not bring against him an abusive accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee ( which was power enough to defeat satan and gain the body of Moses).

So likewise, when we know God’s Word and stand on God’s Word, we get the victory. It might take a bit, but if we stay with it, not wavering, knowing that we are in a battle that requires us to be fully engaged and convinced in our mind( helmet of salvation ) that He can do what He has promised, our victory will come. 

James 4:6-8ll

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble ( verse 7 is valid only if verse 6 is followed). 

Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil (stand on specific scriptures that pertain to your struggle), and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded (come true with God; He knows us and loves us, and will not leave us like we are) 

Winning our battles requires a knowledge of God’s Word and a daily visit with Him. God required Joshua two visits a day in the scriptures, and what The Father requires of one child, He requires of all His children. An easy way to fulfill this is to read Proverbs in the morning( or you can put Proverbs on audio and listen while you are getting ready for work or eating breakfast) and then have your study during your lunch hour. That’s how I have done it for years. And yes, it means you pack a lunch and eat at the office or park, which means you only go out for lunch with some. It might hurt a bit, but five years from now, when two or three of your co-workers are having problems in their marriage or with their kids, but your marriage and kids are doing well, it will have paid off, not to mention a stronger walk with Christ. 

Now, why is Abraham called the “Father of our faith?”

Romans 4:20-22

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

He was fully persuaded that what he had promised, he could also perform.

And therefore, it was imputed to him for righteousness.

For good reason, Abraham is called the father of our faith, believing that Sarah, who is 100 years of age, could still conceive and bear a child. That’s a miracle, and then when God asked for Isaac to be a blood offering, Abraham obeyed, believing that what God caused to come to life from a dead womb, He could also raise from the dead. God had no intention of Abraham killing his son, but He tested Abraham so as to bless him so that his descendants would be like the stars of the sky. Abraham believed, and therefore, we are blessed. Know that behind all tests and trials is a God who is preparing us for the next step and the following blessing, and let’s take a side step from our study and ask what you consider a blessing. God asked Solomon that same question. 

2 Chronicles 1:7-11

On that night, God appeared unto Solomon and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.

And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast showed great mercy unto David, my father, and hast made me reign in his stead. 

Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.

Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this — thy people, that is so great?

And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor — the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge — my people, over whom I have made thee king:

Do you agree that knowing God intimately is a blessing more than riches or fame or getting what we want? Do we have a limit on believing in God? Jesus asked the disciples after He preached a hard and offensive message, “Will you too also desert me,” or will we be more like David? 

Psalms 119:10-12

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

How do we follow in Abraham’s footsteps? It is first by putting on the helmet of salvation. That’s exactly what Abraham did when he believed and obeyed God over every visible circumstance that spoke to the contrary. 

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But let us, who are of the day, be sober (as opposed to being distracted, drunk, partying, or foolishly minded), putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

These verses represent the best definition I know of what the Helmet of Salvation produces in us; without it, our walk would be fraught with defeat and sadness. People who know us will not want to be Christian because of our poor example. 

Father, 

Do all this in us… thank you, and Amen.