Author: iolaHC

I am an Artwork in progress

Having on the Breastplate

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

… having on the breastplate of righteousness Eph. 6:14b KJV 

Continuing on the armor of God that we are commanded to put on to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might; we are also commanded to have on the breastplate of righteousness – covering our vital organs, we need to always ‘be in right standing’ with God.  Romans 6:13-20 describe this instruction clearly:

Neither yield you your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness.

A RIGHTEOUS MAN is dead to sin and freed of it; Rom. 6 a new creature 2 Cor. 5:17-18 and has crucified the flesh; Gal. 5:24 imitates Christ Php. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:21-22; 1 Jn. 2:6 confesses Him Rom. 10:9-10 and are His servants, Eph. 6:6 and the servants of righteousness. Rom. 6:19  He is holy and without blame, Eph. 1:4 kind and tender hearted, forgiving and merciful Eph. 4:32; Ps. 37:21 patient and longsuffering, Col. 1:11 prayerful. 1 Tim. 2:1-4  A righteous man hates lying Prov. 13:5 abhors wickedness Ps. 101:3-4 quits evil Isa. 1:16-17 sows, Hos. 10:12; Gal. 6:8 seeks Matt. 6:33  follows Heb. 12:14 and hungers for righteousness. Matt. 5:6

I choose to be like a tree planted, cultivated, and well-watered; that bring forth fruit in season; my leaves shall not wither; and whatsoever I do, I shall prosper! Ps. 1:3 Cleanse me from secret faults and keep me back from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD. Ps. 19:12-14

Girt About With Truth

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Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth Eph 6:14 KJV 

We are commanded to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might; to put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. One of the areas that we are commanded to cover up, is our loins – the area of the human body where our balance are developed – the body’s core strength. Now the Word commands us to STAND, to be steadfast and unmovable, 1 Cor. 15:58; 1 Pet. 5:9 to Girt Our Loins About with Truth.

To be able to be unmovable, we need to have our core strength covered in truth.  Now this TRUTH is not any human’s version of what we think is right or wrong, this Truth has a name:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Joh. 14:6 KJV 

Here, Jesus introduced Himself to us as thé Truth and Life, and no man can reconcile Col. 1:20 with the Father, if they have not accepted Jesus as their Redeemer and Savior.  He alone can set us free, for He is the Truth, the Life!

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Joh 8:32 KJV

I choose NOT to be double minded and unstable in all my ways, Jas. 1:8 but with This Truth I shall stand and be unmovable, in Him I will have strength!

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. 15:58KJV 

Think on These Things

~ iolaHC ~ 1 Comment

THINK:

Noun – the process of considering or reasoning about something.

Adjective – using thought or rational judgement; intelligent.

We consist of spirit, soul and body 1 Thes. 5:23 and our spirit is that invisible part that knows – the seat of our intellect, mind, and will, and that which gives us self-determination and makes us a free moral agent and a rational being 1 Cor.  2:11a; Mat. 26:41; Prov. 20:27; Phil. 1:27; Heb. 4:12

It is in this area that the enemy attacks us through theta brain waves which we perceive as thoughts and thus the warning to “put on the whole armor” so that we can stand against the enemy’s wiles and to “take the helmet of salvation” Eph. 5:11,13,17

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalt itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ   2 Corinthians 10:5  KJV

The Word command – not request or suggest – that we CAST DOWN imaginations and everything that exalt itself against His knowledge (that which He revealed in His Word) and to take every thought captive to obedience of Christ (that which He commanded us to obey).  To set our affection on the things above, not on the things on the earth Col. 3:2 and to Think On These Things:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  Philippians 4:8 KJV

  1. True things: all that is in harmony with eternal truth 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-17
  2. Honest things: all that is grave, decent and honorable 1 Tim. 3:8, 11; Tit. 2:2
  3. Just things: all that is in harmony with justice and righteousness Rom. 3:24-31; 8:4; 2 Pet. 1:4-10
  4. Pure things: all that is chaste and holy for body and soul Rom.12:1-2; 2 Cor. 3:16-17; 7:1
  5. Lovely things: all that is pleasing and tends to bless others 2 Cor. 13:4-8; Gal. 5:22-23
  6. Things of good report: all that is in harmony with the best public good, virtuous and praiseworthy Rom. 13:1-10; 2 Pet. 1:4-10

The weapons of our warfare are NOT carnal but mighty through God to enable us to pull down the enemy’s strongholds 2 Cor. 10:3-4 and therefore we are commanded to resist him 1 Pet. 5:8-9 and therefore implement James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

SUBMIT:

Verb – accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person.

RESIST:

Verb – withstand the action or effect of.

In the name of Jesus John 14:13-14 we can rebuke all thoughts that come to mind and that are not acceptable to the standard that was set for us by the Word of God that we are suppose to live accordingly…  we have been commanded to do so, for the victory has been provided for us, but  the choice remain for each individual to choose….

I choose to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report…. do you?

 

To the ‘Why’s’ and ‘How’s’

~ iolaHC ~ 2 Comments

Every day – all day long: every waking (and sleeping) moment, I strife to implement God’s Word in every nook and cranny, of my life.  Some might ask “Why?” others “How?”… I am writing for the second group… the “How’s”… but to answer the “Why’s”…

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.  Colossians 4:6 KJV

We all need to decide what our life is worth and according to what standard we want to live, or are striving to live to.  For those of you who are ‘just living’, or ‘making the most of it’, please keep eternity in mind, because we will live with the consequence of every decision we make.  And whether we believe in God or His Word, well another decision all of us have to make for ourselves, because one thing I have learned over my serving period, are that we can advise and counsel others, but to help them…

 “you have to die for them before you can save them” (John 3:16)

and I certainly don’t qualify.  Thus, believe what you may, but I choose to stay with the One who gave me His life.  This is my worth…

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV

To the “How’s” I can bring hope and inspiration, for I have a whole book that was God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:15-17) from which I implement guidance and a life that was given to me (us) as an example to follow… may you follow with me!!

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps  1 Peter 2:21-24 KJV