Taking the Shield of Faith

October 15, 2018October 15, 2018 ~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ^{Eph. 6:16 KJV}

Still focusing on the armor of God, we are commanded to put on to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, we are instructed to take the shield of faith so that we are able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Victory over the enemy and sin has been accomplished and we need to exercise our faith in order for us to be continuously in this position.

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. ^{1 Jn. 5:18 KJV}

The word “believeth” denotes the act and process of faith. It comes from the Greek verb pisteuo (NT:4100) which occurs 248 times in the New Testament. This use of the present tense indicates that faith must be continued in to receive its benefits. ^{Acts 14:22; Eph. 6:16; Col. 1:23; 2:5-7; 1 Thes. 5:8; 1 Tim. 2:15; 3:9; 6:12; 2 Tim. 3:8; 4:7; Tit. 1:13; Heb. 10:23-38; 2 Pet. 1:5-10}

Faith is a change of confidence, a new trust in God; to be persuaded of; ^{Rom. 4:17-22; 8:38-39; 2 Tim. 1:12} place confidence in; ^{Eph. 3:12; Phil. 1:6; Heb. 3:6,12-14; 10:35; 1 John 3:21; 5:14}the substance or conviction of things hoped for, the assurance of things not seen; ^{Heb. 10:19-38; 11:1,6; Rom. 4:17; 8:24}absolute dependence upon and reliance in the Word of God and of Christ; ^{Matt. 8:8-10; 15:28; Rom. 10:17; Heb. 11:1-12:3}full surrender, yieldedness, and obedience to all known truth; ^{Rom. 1:5; 16:26; 6:11-23; Jas. 2:14-26; 2 Cor. 10:4-7; Heb. 11:6}we must trust wholly and unreservedly in the faithfulness of God. ^{Matt. 6:25-34; 12:21; Luke 12:28-31; Eph. 1:13; 1 Tim. 4:11; 6:17; 1 Cor. 10:13}Give one’s self over to a new way of life. ^{Rom. 1:17; 6:11-23; 8:1-16; 2 Cor. 10:4-7; Gal. 5:16-26; Col. 3:5-10; Heb. 12:1-15; Tit. 2:11-14; 1 Jn. 1:7; 2:6; 3:8-10; 4:17; 5:1-5,18}The attribute of God and restored faculty of man whereby both can bring into existence things that are unseen; ^{Rom. 4:17; Gal. 5:22; Matt. 17:20; 21:22; Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; Luke 17:6; Heb. 11}the whole body of revealed truth. ^{Luke 18:8; Jude 1:3; Rom. 10:17; 1 Tim. 4:1,6; 6:10; 2 Tim. 3:16-17}Joyful faith in, and acceptance of Christ as the substitute for sin and our Savior whereby one receives salvation ^{Mark 16:16; Acts 4:12; 10:43; Rom, 1:16; 3:24-31; Eph. 2:8-9;} access into grace, ^{Rom. 5:2} fulfillment of the promises, ^{Heb. 6:12} the Holy Spirit, ^{Gal. 3:14} righteousness, ^{Rom. 4; 9:30,32; 10:6; Php. 3:9} sonship, ^{Gal. 3:26} healing, ^{Jas. 5:14-16; 1 Pet. 2:24} eternal life, ^{John 3:15-18,36; 5:24; 6:47} and answers to every prayer ^{Matt. 7:7-11; 21:21; Mark 11:22-24; Luke 18:1-8; John 14:12-15; 15:7,16}

If we want to please God, we must have faith, which is an undeterred trust in Him and what He says He will do for us. Without this trust in Him, we nullify all the promises He gave us and we make Him a liar.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. ^{Heb. 11:6 KJV}

Faith is simple. It is believing God without wavering, without doubting, and without questioning what He says. It is taking God at His Word and believing that what He has promised He is able to perform it. It is believing not only that He is able, but that He will do it. It is the quality of counting those things that “be not as though they were”. ^{Rom. 4:17} The enemy knows that we can move mountains ^{Matt. 17:20} with this kind of faith and thus need our shields down so that whatever he shoots at us, might struck. The way to get faith is by hearing the Word of God. ^{Rom. 10:17}The way to use faith is to take God at His Word and count Him faithful in granting what is asked for in the name of Jesus. Ask and then believe that it is done. Thank God for it as if it were already done. Expect the complete answer whether you see it at once or not. Forget symptoms, feelings, impossibilities, or anything to the contrary and it shall be done regardless of how impossible it may appear outwardly!

I choose to believe, to have the absolute conviction, that what God has promised and what I have asked, according to His Word, is done already!!

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. ^{Heb 11:1}^{-3 KJV}

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}