WATCH CONSTANTLY

“The devil, I am sure, begins to tempt when saints cease to watch. So be consistent in your watchfulness; otherwise you stand to lose everything

What is our life in this world from beginning to end but a dark night of temptation? Christian, it is so very important to make sure your sentry lamp does not go out in this darkness, and your enemy catch you unawares. If you drift off into spiritual slumber, you are an easy mark for his wrath. And you may be sure if you do let sleep overtake you, the devil will hear of it. He knew the apostles' sleeping time and desired to sift them like wheat Luke 22:31. A thief is just getting up when honest men are going to bed. The devil, I am sure, begins to tempt when saints cease to watch. So be consistent in your watchfulness; otherwise you stand to lose everything.

Some Christians, having been injured by a serious fall into sin, will be very careful for a while as to where they walk and the kind of company they keep. But as the soreness of their consciences wears off, they forget to keep watch and become as careless as ever. A shopkeeper who has just been robbed is very careful to lock up his store thoroughly. He may even stay up late to watch it for several nights, but as time passes he relaxes his guard and at last gives it no further attention.

Josephus, in his Antiquities, tells us that the sons of Noah lived only on the tops of high mountains for some years after the flood, not daring to build houses on lower ground for fear of being drowned by another deluge. But as time passed and no flood came, they ventured down into the plain of Shinar where their former fear gave way to one of the boldest, most arrogant attempts against God that man ever pursued. They tried to build a tower high enough to reach heaven,  Genesis 11:2-4. The very men who at first were so fearful of drowning that they would not venture down the hill, at last ventured on a plan to protect themselves against all future attempts from the God of heaven to judge them.”

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

STAND-- DO NOT SLEEP

“Take heed that you do not indulge yourself in laziness; stir yourself to action as we tell someone who is drowsy to stand up and walk around.

Watchfulness is more important for the Christian soldier than any other. In temporal battles soldiers fight against men who need sleep the same as themselves, but the saint's enemy, Satan, is always awake and walking his rounds. Since the devil never sleeps, the Christian puts himself in grave danger by falling asleep spiritually-- that is, by becoming secure and careless. Either the unregenerate part of his nature will betray him, or grace will not be alert to discover the enemy and prepare for the assault. Satan will be upon him before he is awake enough to draw his sword. You should be aware that the saint's sleeping time is Satan's prime tempting time.

Even a fly dares to creep on a sleeping lion; unless he wakes up, there is nothing to fear. The weakest temptation is strong enough to foil a Christian who is napping in security. While Samson slept, Delilah cut his locks. While Saul slept, his spear was taken from his side and he was none the wiser. A drunken Noah slept and his graceless son took pleasure in seeing his father's nakedness. Eutychus slept, nodded, and fell from the third loft, and was taken up for dead. Thus the Christian sleeping in false security may be taken by surprise. He may lose much of his spiritual strength-- be robbed of his spear or armor (graces, I mean)-- or have his nakedness uncovered by graceless men, and bring shame to his profession.

Sleep steals upon the soul as quietly as it does on the body. The wise virgins fell asleep along with the foolish ones, though not so soundly. Take heed that you do not indulge yourself in laziness; stir yourself to action, as we tell someone who is drowsy to stand up and walk around. Yield to idleness and sloth and they will grow upon you; busy yourself in your Christian duties and spiritual drowsiness will flee. “

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

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ARE WE TRULY ABOUT OUR FATHERS BUSINESS?

What is God Expecting of US?

If it to please God then you will have to be open to the transforming work of God in your spirit, your soul (mind, will and emotions) and your body.
Jesus was very clear about His mission and about what we as believers should have for a mission, the bringing of God’s rule (kingdom) by the redeeming (seeking and saving that which was lost or humankind’s relationship with God) by the saving work of His life, death and resurrection.

Jesus said ‘The promise of the father or the Holy Spirits power with fire to empower the disciples of every generation to continue doing what He began in every nation.The Holy Spirit through Luke talks about ‘All that Jesus began to do and teach’.

The Holy Spirit once again gives additional instructions to the God given leadership Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, pastors and Teachers as to the elements of making disciples and bringing the kingdom of God in Ephesians 4:10-14 ESV
1. Doing the work of the ministry (what Jesus began to do and teach)
2. Building up one another
3. Bringing the Body of Christ into the maturity of Christ Himself.

If we as believers get away from God’s Plan for His Church (Bringing His Kingdom and Making Disciples we are wasting His resources and not accomplishing All That Jesus began to Do and Teach!

GO WHERE GOD CALLS YOU

“When you are in any place or about any work to which you are not called, you may be sure God is not in that place or enterprise.

If you love to walk in God's company, you must abide in your place and calling. Every step in a different direction is a departure from Him. How much more blessed to stay at home in a humble place and low calling and there enjoy God's sweet presence, than to go to a sumptuous palace and live without Him. Truly, when you are in any place or about any work which you are not called, you may be sure God is not in that place or enterprise. And what a bold adventure it is to stay where you cannot expect His presence to assist or protect!

In doing the duty of our place we have heaven's word for our security; but if we wander, we have heaven's word for our peril. It is just as dangerous to do what we are not called to do as to neglect or leave undone the duty of our place. As the earth could not bear the act of Korah and his company in usurping another's authority Numbers 16:30-33, so the sea could not harbor Jonah, the runaway prophet. Refusing to be his escape route from God's command, the raging sea caused Jonah to be cast overboard Jonah 1:14-15. Nor would heaven harbor the angels once they had left their God-appointed place and office Jude 6.

The ruin of many souls rushes in upon them at this door. First they break rank, then they are led further into temptation. Absalom first looked over the hedge in his ambitious thoughts: He would be king! This wandering desire to go beyond his place let in the bloody sins of rebellion, incest, and murder, and these at last delivered him into the hands of divine vengeance. The apostle joins order to steadfastness: "I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith" Colossians 2:5. That army alone is invincible in which every soldier stands in close order, attending to his duty and content with his work."


Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

YOUR FAITH MUST BE PRACTICAL

“As the Lord has called everyone, so let him walk" 1 Corinthians 7:17.  

Religion which has no practical impact on our daily lives quickly becomes a vague, abstract notion that amounts to nothing. Yet many have nothing more than an empty profession to prove they are Christians. They are like the cinnamon tree whose outer bark is more valuable than all else that remains. The apostle speaks of such people in his letter to Titus: "They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" Titus 1:6.

What is meant by "good works" becomes clear in the following chapter Titus 2:2-8, where the apostle presents the duties which Christians ought to perform. A good Christian but a nagging wife, a godly man but a negligent father-- these are contradictions that cannot be reconciled. The man who does not walk uprightly in his own house is nothing more than a hypocrite at church. If you are not a Christian in your shop, you are not a Christian in your closet-- even though you may pray there. If your faith founders in one way, it cannot flourish in any other. Some professing Christians fail in their duties toward their fellow men, while maintaining an outward show of worship to God. Others falter in acts of worship while seeming to be steadfast in their duties to their fellow men. Both inconsistencies are destructive to the soul. The soldier who stands in order is conscientious toward the whole duty that lies on him in regard to both God and man.

Third, to stand in order means we must stay within the bounds of our place and calling. The Israelites were commanded every man "to pitch by his own standards" Numbers 2:2. This meant they were to be "arranged in order," as in a military formation. God allows no stragglers in His army of saints. "As the Lord has called every one, so let him walk"  Corinthians 7:17.”

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617

What is the Christian's Purpose or Mission?

What is Your Mission? If it to please God then you will have to be open to the transforming work of God in your spirit, your soul (mind, will and emotions) and your body.

When Jesus came He fulfilled hundreds of prophecies concerning the Messiah, which was promised and did so in such a way that anyone who believed the written Word or Old Testament could believe He was the Messiah.

Jesus was very clear about His mission and about what we as believers should have for a mission, the bringing of God’s rule (kingdom) by the redeeming (seeking and saving that which was lost or humankind’s relationship with God) by the saving work of His life, death and resurrection.

Jesus promises ‘The promise of the father’ or the Holy Spirits power with fire to empower the disciples of every generation to continue doing what He began in every nation

The Holy Spirit through Luke talks about ‘All that Jesus began to do and teach’.

The Holy Spirit once again gives additional instructions to the God given leadership Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, pastors and Teachers as to the elements of making disciples and bringing the kingdom of God in Ephesians 4:10-14 ESV

1. Doing the work of the ministry (what Jesus began to do and teach)

2. Building up one another

3. Bringing the Body of Christ into the maturity of Christ Himself.

He went on the helps us see that every individual in the Body of Christ must grow and be joined together different but needed.

                  “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

If we as believers get away from God’s Vision or Mission for His Church (Bringing His Kingdom and Making Disciples we are wasting His resources and not accomplishing All That Jesus began to Do and Teach.

DON'T GIVE THE DEVIL A FOOTHOLD

"If a man is not strong enough to resist Satan in a lesser thing, how can he believe he will be able to repel a greater temptation? Satan is an encroaching enemy. Therefore, you must resist him constantly. "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath," warns the apostle; "neither give place to the devil" Ephesians 4:26-27. A soldier assigned to guard duty on the outskirts of a city must keep watch as faithfully as the king's personal bodyguard, or the enemy will break through the outer limits and thereby gain access to the heart of the town.

If you yield to temptation along the perimeter of your heart, you give the devil a foothold from which to create havoc in your inner spirit. For example, you may become angry and thoughtlessly spew out some bitter words. At the very moment this unholy language spills from your mouth, the devil finds the floodgates open and enters. Then comes gushing forth such things as you never dreamed of saying! He is a cunning opponent and will not easily relinquish any ground he gains. The safest strategy, then, is to give him no ground at all from which to work. If you so much as hesitate as you walk by the door where sin dwells, you give Satan more time to entice you to enter. Then you are on his territory.

Who will stop by a tavern to enjoy the company of drunkards, or frequent places of sin, and yet pretend he does not intend to partake? Who will prostitute his eyes to unchaste objects, and yet remain chaste? Who will lend his ears to any corrupt doctrine of the times, and yet be sound in faith? Such a person is under a strong delusion. If a man is not strong enough to resist Satan in a lesser thing, how can he believe he will be able to repel a greater temptation? You say you cannot avoid being surrounded by deep waters of temptation, yet you think you have the strength to hold your head above water? Then give careful thought to some practical advice: It is far easier, when in the ship, to keep from falling overboard than, when in the sea, to get safely into the ship again.”

AWESOME WORD!

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617