Thursday, January 14, 2010

1-14-2010

Ephesians 6:10-18 (The Message)

A Fight to the Finish 10-12And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
13-18Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.


I love this version! On Tuesday night, Pastor Mike talked about the armor of God...that we should be putting on the full armor. This version says "well-made weapons of the best material." This is so good! I'm going to start today with the Helmet of Salvation. A helmet is defined as 1. (Military / arms & Armour (excluding Firearms) a piece of protective or defensive armour for the head worn by soldiers, policemen, firemen, divers, etc. Helmet are used for security. We use them for sports, bicycles, motorcycles, construction, etc. Failure to wear one can be fatal. In war, soldiers can get severe injuries. They will be able to survive a broken arm or broken ribs, etc. But a hard blow to the head can immobilize him or can be fatal.

We use the helmet of salvation spiritually to protect our minds. Wearing the whole armor will prevent casualties. It is the first piece that we should put on. Satan tries to attack our minds. People notice when we wear a helmet. Are we living like we are saved or are we difficult to recognize because we are blending in? We need to "show off" our helmet and show others the need for one and teach them out to obtain it. The helmet of Salvation is the hope of salvation...salvation from sin. The helmet of salvation grows stronger with use. I was thinking about how God made animals and I thought of the armadillo. God designed them to have protection. As they mature, their armor gets harder & tougher. God provides us with armor but we have to put it on. As I said above, this version says "well-made weapons of the best material." He loves us so much that He gave us weapons made out of the best material. We have to make the decision to use it. So start today & put on your armor. We'll be talking tomorrow about the breastplate of righteousness.