Having on the Breastplate

October 11, 2018October 12, 2018 ~ 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

October 10, 2018October 12, 2018 ~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

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}

To the ‘Why’s’ and ‘How’s’

October 7, 2018October 12, 2018 ~ 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. ^Col^ossians^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 ^Co^rinthians^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}