We Are At War: The Shield of Faith

Tags

A Measure of Faith, Ephesians 5:25-27, Ephesians 6:16, Fiery darts, Rick Renner, Roman Military Shield, Roman scutum, Roman Shield, Romans 10:17, Romans 12:3, Scutum, the Shield of Faith

Here are some things we have learned so far about Ephesians 6.

*We are war.

*The combat is up close and personal and very real.

-The battle is unseen

-The battle is spiritual

-The battle is mostly in the mind

*God has equipped us.

-A showy, impenetrable helmet

-An ornate, indispensable belt

-A small but deadly sword

Ephesians 6:16

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

The Make of the Roman Shield

The ancient Roman shield of Jesus’ day was called a scutum (plural scuti). A scutum was a semi-cylindrical, rectangular shape, was four feet tall, two and half feet wide, and weighed around twenty pounds. The Roman shield was made of several components including wood, several woven together layers of leather that became so strong it was nearly like steal (Rick Renner, “Spiritual Warfare: Understanding Your Shield of Faith” https://renner.org/spiritual-warfare-understanding-your-shield-of-faith/), canvas, iron edging, and a central feature or “boss” was made of iron, bronze or brass, (“Roman Gladius and Scutum: Carving Out An Empire” http://www.historynet.com/roman-gladius-and-scutum-carving-out-an-empire.htm). Interestingly enough, the scutum covered most of the soldier’s body. Furthermore, “The word “shield” is the Greek word thureos, which was used by the Greeks and Romans to depict an oblong door that was wide in width and long in length. The reason Roman soldiers used this word to describe their battle shields was that their shields were actually door-shaped! They were wide in width and long in length, just like the door of a house,” (Rick Renner, “Spiritual Warfare: Understanding Your Shield of Faith” https://renner.org/spiritual-warfare-understanding-your-shield-of-faith/).

The Use of the Roman Shield

The scutum was not wielded like any other shield, for it was too large to be maneuvered quickly. Most importantly, it was not merely defensive, but was first and foremost, used offensively. The Roman soldier did not wait for the enemy on the field to advance to him. After getting close to the enemy, volleys of pila were thrust at them. Pila were javelins that would stick in an opponent’s shield rendering it difficult to wield (“The Shield: An Abridged History of It’s Use and Development” http://myarmoury.com/feature_shield.html). It was then that the Roman soldier would charge forward with shield stretched out directly in front of him, his left arm straight and set. With the shield he would ram his enemy, knocking him off guard and possibly off of his feet. After doing this, the Roman soldier would could use the metal edges of his shield to hack at his opponent. If hacking was not an option for whatever reason, the Roman soldier would thrust his shield into the ground and fight from behind it, either in a crouching or kneeling position.

The Preparation of the Shield

Because the shield to the Roman soldier was of utmost importance offensively and defensively, he daily set aside time to oil its leather. After all, if leather gets dry, it cracks, and one does not want a faulty shield, especially when your life is at stake.

On top of this, before a battle, they would saturate their shield with water. This of course would make it heavier. So, why would they do this?

The opponents often had arrows they would shoot in the direction of the Roman advancement. Sometimes they were just ordinary arrows, and therefore, harmless so long as one held up their shield. Other times the ends of the arrows were set on fire so that when they hit their mark a fire would kindle. And then there were the insidious arrows which only appeared to be ordinary arrows but were filled with explosive material that would explode into fire as soon as the target was met (https://renner.org/take-up-your-shield-of-faith/). However, when any type of arrow (ordinary, fiery, or deceptively explosive) met the Roman’s saturated shield, the arrow fizzled and could not do the damage it was intended to do.

For this reason, it was imperative that the Roman soldier prepare his shield daily with oil, and with water before battle.

The Verse: Why “Above All”?

Now, to the Christian, the shield that we wield is that of faith. And according to the Apostle Paul Christians are to “Above all,” take it up. “Above all” however, does not mean that it is more important than the rest of the armor nor that it should be held onto more than the others nor to be chosen above the others. “The phrase “above all” is taken from the Greek phrase epi pasin. The word epi means over. The word pasin means all or everything. So rather than stating that the shield of faith is more important than the other pieces of armor, the phrase epi pasin describes the position faith should have over the other pieces of armor. It could be better translated, “Out in front of all….” or “Covering all….”” (Rick Renner, “Take Up Your Shield of Faith” https://renner.org/take-up-your-shield-of-faith/). In other words, the shield is not to be at our side or on the ground or in a closet or in another state. The shield is to be directly in front of us, covering all of us as well as covering most of the other armor that we are wearing. It is to cover all.

The Verse: What Does “Taking” Mean?

When Paul says, ““…Taking the shield of faith….” the word “taking” is from the word analambano, which is a compound of the Greek words ana and lambano. The word ana means up, back, or again; the word lambano means to take up or to take in hand. When compounded together, it means to take something up in hand or to pick something back up again. This plainly means your shield of faith can be either picked up or laid down. It places the responsibility on you as to whether you will use your shield of faith or allow yourself to go through life unprotected,” (Rick Renner, “Take Up Your Shield of Faith” ).

The Rest of the Verse

“…wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

When it says Christians “shall be able” this is not just an ordinary word. It sounds rather stale or limp actually, “shall be able”. But, incredibly it comes from the word dunamis. You all know what dynamite is. Dynamite is an explosive, and explosive dynamite gets its name from this word dunamis. Perhaps a better way to translate what Paul said is ““Above all, taking the shield of faith, by which you will be dynamically empowered.…” (“Here’s How to Extinguish the Fiery Darts” https://renner.org/heres-how-to-extinguish-the-fiery-darts-of-the-wicke/).

Think about that! Christians are explosively, dynamically empowered by this shield of faith.

Practical Application

So…what does this mean for us as Christians? What does God want us to learn from this information? And how do we apply it?

To begin with, the Lord has given us a unique, body sized, door shaped shield. It is large enough to completely cover us if it is held directly in front. It is not just a defensive weapon, but is really our first line of offense. But, in order for it to work for us, we must take care of it. First of all we must oil our faith daily. How do we do that? In the Bible oil is most often associated with the Holy Spirit, and it says in Ephesians 5:18 that we are to be freshly filled with the Holy Spirit over and over and over again. It says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit…” In the Greek this being filled is a continuous, ongoing thing. So we need our faith to be oiled by the continuous filling of the Holy Spirit.

Secondly, we must saturate our faith. But what are we to saturate it with? Questions? Fears? Doubts? In Ephesians 5:25-27 the Apostle Paul has already given us the answer to this question by saying, “…Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Thus, we see that the way we get a saturated faith is through the “washing of water by the word.” Indeed, we can’t even really have faith without the word. As Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” So we need our faith to be saturated with the word of God.

Remember, if our shield of faith is not oiled, it will crack and ultimately bring about certain death. We are in a very real battle with an enemy who is out to “steal, kill, and destroy” us. This is not a game. Furthermore, our shield of faith must be saturated with the word of God or else the deceptive fiery darts of the enemy will hit us and set us on fire. Without the water of God’s word we cannot “quench” those deadly darts.

And finally, we as Christians must daily choose to take up the shield of faith and charge into battle. Remember, the Roman soldier did not saunter; he did not casually walk into battle. He charged. He meant business. The well-oiled, water saturated shield is our first offensive weapon. It knocks our enemy off guard; it gives us a foothold on the battlefield. And it covers us completely. Not one of us is lacking in faith. Not one of us has too little faith or needs to increase in faith, for according to Romans 12:3 God has given each of us a measure of faith. And that measure is perfectly proportioned to each of us, and covers us exactly where each of us needs it. All we need do is take it up and use it.

Sources:

“Spiritual Warfare: Understanding Your Shield of Faith”

https://renner.org/spiritual-warfare-understanding-your-shield-of-faith/

“Take Up Your Shield of Faith”

https://renner.org/take-up-your-shield-of-faith/

“Here’s How to Extinguish the Fiery Darts”

https://renner.org/heres-how-to-extinguish-the-fiery-darts-of-the-wicke/

“Three Kinds of Ancient Roman Shields”

http://madefrom.com/history/antiquity/kinds-of-ancient-roman-shields/

“Armor”

https://romanmilitary.net/tools/armor/

“The Shield: An Abridged History of It’s Use and Development”

http://myarmoury.com/feature_shield.html

“Shields: Terminology and History”

http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/Kent/shieweap/shgenex3.html

“Roman Gladius and Scutum: Carving Out An Empire”

http://www.historynet.com/roman-gladius-and-scutum-carving-out-an-empire.htm

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We Are At War: Shoes of Peace

Tags

Ephesians 6, Ephesians 6:15, Hobnailed caligae, Killer shoes, Rick Renner, Roman Military Shoes, Shoes of Peace, Shoes of the Gospel of Peace, Spiritual Warfare, Stefani Hoss

We have been learning that we are at war with an unseen enemy. We are in hand to hand combat with an enemy that wants to destroy us, but we have been empowered by God so that we can withstand all orderly methods/strategies of the enemy no matter what level that enemy is whether “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (verse 12). The empowering that we have received from the Lord is in the form of armor, and is composed of pieces, of which we are to take up the “whole” armor of God, not just one piece or two. These pieces include: the helmet, the breastplate, the belt, the shield, the sword, and the shoes.

Review

Let’s review the pieces of armor that we have covered so far, namely the helmet, the belt, the shield and the sword.

The Helmet:

The helmet was flashy, showpiece that was also durable, weighty and an impenetrable protection against the battle axes of the enemy. This is a picture of our salvation: Impenetrable and ornate. The helmet of our salvation is there to protect our thinking, for we have been given the mind of Christ. The helmet is one of wholeness, security, right thinking, renewal, a shield from destructive mindsets and emotions. It is a helmet that enables us to change our form and be transfigured from the earthly to the spiritual, from darkness to light.

The Shield:

The well-oiled, water-saturated shield is our first offensive weapon. Thus, is our faith. Our faith is offensive not defensive. It knocks our enemy off guard; it gives us a foothold on the battlefield. Remember, the shield of the Roman soldier covered them completely. Even so, each of us is covered completely by our faith, and not one of us is lacking in faith. But we need to keep our faith anointed with the Holy Spirit and washed with the water of the Word of God. After all faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Remaining in the Word and the refilling of the Holy Spirit will oil and saturate our faith so that the enemy’s deceptions will do us no harm.

The Belt:

Furthermore, we are equipped with the sparkling belt of truth. And this we found out is no ordinary belt, but rather, is the defining feature of a soldier. Whether on the battlefield or off, the Roman soldier was recognized because of this distinct belt. This belt even made the soldier walk differently, stand differently, and act differently. No one else walked or stood like a soldier, and no one else wore such a belt. This for the Christian is the belt of Truth, for the Truth makes us walk differently, talk differently, act differently. The truth is what sets us free. The truth is what distinguishes Christianity from all other religions of the world. Not only this, but the belt of truth is that upon which much of the armor is connected in some form or fashion, including the breastplate of righteousness and the sword.

The Sword:

The Roman soldier always wore his sword, for his sword and belt were intertwined so as to not be separated. Though most of Roman society could not wear a weapon in public, the soldier could. Even so, God’s belt of truth and His sword of the Spirit that is the Word of God are intimately linked and inseparable. There is no truth outside of God’s Word. When it comes to the Christian, this sword is of the Spirit and is the Word of God. But, the Word of God referred to here is not the entire Word (logos), but rather, a specific passage from Scripture (Rhema) for a specific situation, and is to be even more specifically used in warfare prayer. Yes, the whole Word is inspired, indeed, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thouroghly furnished unto all good works,” I Timothy 3:16-17. But, in instances of praying, specific inspired passages of the inspired Word will be brought to mind by the Holy Spirit that are to be used as a sword against the enemy.

Putting on Our Shoes

Today, we are going to look at what we as Christians are to have upon our spiritual feet.

“Stand therefore having…your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace…”

Ephesians 6:15

Before we ever go anywhere, we get dressed, and a very important part of getting dressed is putting on our shoes. There are actually restaurants and other establishments that still put up signs that say, “No shirt, no shoes, no service.” Shoes are very important. And more important than that, is what kind of shoes you wear!

A Roman Soldier’s Battle Shoes

When a Roman soldier was not on the battlefield, he could still be recognized as a soldier. In our modern day everyone looks alike when not in uniform. If one nowadays is in the military or the medical field or is a farmer or waitress or a manager of a store or even a pastor of a church, everyone in their off time seems to dress the same. However, back in Paul’s day, that was not the case. So, how did people know that a soldier was a soldier even when on leave? His belt and his shoes.

According to researcher Stefani Hoss, “Only the hobnailed caligae and the belt can be defined as typical for soldiers, identifying them as milites [military] even when they were not wearing amour. While caligae were also worn by civilians, they are typical for soldiers. Literary sources and inscriptions describe soldiers’ expressis verbis as caligati or as serving in caligae. And the hobnailed boots and their wearers are also equated both in the Roman and Jewish literature at the time.” (“A Theoretical Approach to Roman Military Belts,” by Stefani Hoss, http://www.academia.edu/4849015/A_Theoretical_Approach_to_Roman_Military_Belts, page 320-321). “The military belt was decorated with elaborate buckles, metal plates, strap-ends and other attachments, which made it heavy, eye-catching and jingly. Together with the crunch of hob-nailed sandals, the jingling of the metal belt pieces must have given soldiers a distinctive ‘sound’, announcing their presence.” (The Roman Military Belt,” by Stefani Hoss, http://www.academia.edu/212354/The_Roman_Military_Belt, page 30).

In other words, before you even saw a soldier approaching, you heard him, from the jingling of his belt, the clanking of the inseparable sword, and the clacking of his hobnailed shoes.

The shoes a soldier wore were cleated, sort of like golfer’s shoes or baseball players. They also had a spike at the heal and the toe. In other words, these shoes meant business and were made for both stability on the battlefield and to be a weapon against the enemy. “One good kick with those shoes, and an enemy would be dead. Just a few seconds of stomping on a fallen adversary would have eradicated that foe forever!” (“Are You Wearing Your Killer Shoes?” by Rick Renner, https://renner.org/are-you-wearing-your-killer-shoes/).

Practical Application

As Christians who are at war, we are to make sure that we get the correct footwear on our feet, and Ephesians 6:15 tells us exactly what those shoes are.

“Stand therefore having…your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace…”

Ephesians 6:15

Just as the Roman soldiers tightly tied on their “killer shoes”, we too are to snugly tie on these cleated shoes for ourselves. No one else can put the shoes on for us. We do it, and we are to always be ready with our feet tightly fitted with these shoes. The Greek tense expresses this clearly. The shoes we are to put on are called “preparation.” However, another way to translate this word is “foundation or firm footing.” So, we are to put on the shoes of the firm foundation of the Gospel which also means “good news”. The Apostle Paul used this description of the Gospel elsewhere in Scripture including 1 Corinthians 3 where he explicitly states that there is to be no other foundation but that of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And it is this Gospel that brings “peace”.

Peace in both the Greek and Hebrew carries with it the powerful meaning of wholeness in every way including our bodies, our minds, our spirits and our finances. It is the absence of confusion and war. It is “Truly the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, fearing nothing from God and consequently content with its earthly lot, whatever it is” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary, by Spiros Zodhiates, page 520).

But this peace is not for our enemy. With our cleats we not only are held firmly in place doctrinally, be we can also use them to stomp on the evil that would steal, kill and destroy us. Greek scholar Rick Renner states, “…As the soldier used those spikes to kick and to kill his opponent, there is no need for you to ever stop moving ahead just because the devil tries to block your path. If he is foolish enough to try to get in front of you, just keep walking! Stomp all along the way! By the time you’re finished using your shoes of peace, you won’t have much of a devil problem to deal with anymore!” (“Are You Wearing Your Killer Shoes?” by Rick Renner, https://renner.org/are-you-wearing-your-killer-shoes/).

This is what we as Christians are to put on our feet. The firm foundation of the Gospel of wholeness in body, mind, and spirit, peace and not confusion is that in which we are to walk. For it is this Gospel of Christ that stabilizes us in every terrain no matter how treacherous, and steadies us on a very slippery, messy, litter ridden battlefield. When we are firmly founded on the Gospel and know that which we believe, we cannot lose our footing and thus, the enemy cannot knock us down. And even when not in a spiritual battle in our mind or in prayer or otherwise, when our feet are shod with the firm foundation of the Gospel of peace, people will know that we are different. Even as the Roman soldier when on leave strolling through town was still known to be a soldier because of the clacking of his cleats, we too ought to sound and walk differently than everybody else all the time and in every situation. Indeed, wherever we are, everyone should know that we are Christians.

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Specific Word Studies:

Shod:

hupodesamenoi, appears to be a 1^st Aorist Middle Participle (aorist participle because of the sa, and middle because of the menoi

From hupodeo #5265, meaning literally, “to bind under” like sandals, slippers or shoes.

In this sense it means that sometime in the undefined past one bound her sandals to her own feet for her own self. In other words, “having shod one’s feet for one’s self.”

Preparation:

hetoimasia #2091, “Preparation, a basis, foundation, firm footing”

From hetoimos #2092, meaning “ready, prepared.” (Like just before a race, “ready, get set, go!”)

Gospel:

euanggelion #2098, meaning, “bringing good news, to proclaim or tell good news”

Peace:

Eirene #1515 meaning, “peace” as the opposite of war, health, all kinds of good physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Hebrew equivalent is shalom #7965 which means, “wholeness, soundness, health, well-being, prosperity, absence of confusion and anything opposite of war.”

**Truly the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, fearing nothing from God and consequently content with its earthly lot, whatever it is” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary, by Spiros Zodhiates, page 520)

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Sources:

Josephus BellJud, 6:85, Juvenal, Satires 3.248, 16:25; Palestinian Talmud (Yerushalmi), Shabbath 8a and 20a

“A Theoretical Approach to Roman Military Belts,” http://www.academia.edu/4849015/A_Theoretical_Approach_to_Roman_Military_Belts

“The Roman Military Belt,” by Stefani Hoss, http://www.academia.edu/212354/The_Roman_Military_Belt

“Are You Dressed in the Whole Armor of God?” by Rick Renner, https://renner.org/are-you-dressed-in-the-whole-armor-of-god/

“Armor of God: Gospel of Peace,” by Dave Johnson, https://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/christian-conversion/armor-of-god/gospel-of-peace/

“Are You Wearing Your Killer Shoes?” by Rick Renner, https://renner.org/are-you-wearing-your-killer-shoes/

We Are At War: The Breastplate of Righteousness

Tags

1 Thessalonians 5:8, Breastplate of Righteousness, Chuck Missler, Ephesians 6, Job 29, Righteousness, Spiritual Warfare, The Full Armor of God, What is Righteousness

The Full Armor of the Living God is an armor of light given to us by our Lord who is light within light. The wearing of this armor is imperative and is a matter of life and death in every way, for we are born on a battlefield. We are born both physically and spiritually and emotionally on a battlefield, and not merely on a battlefield, but that battlefield is in enemy territory. God has reclaimed that battlefield, but the enemy still thinks it is his. And we are in the cross-hairs. Thus, we MUST be armed for all out war.

This is not a war whose end is unclear nor up for grabs nor is a toss up. Rather, this is a war that is already won. Through the apparent weakness of the cross the greatest victory in the world was determined. Through the weakness of love, all evil in every way was completely and utterly defeated at the foot of the foolishness of the old rugged cross.

But the battle is very, very real, and is really, really dirty. The enemy has learned how to play us, and he plays us well. And we literally fall for it all of time.

But, God in His incredible victory has not left us powerless. No! Indeed, He has to powerfully equipped us with armor by His Spirit that if we could ever begin to fathom it, grasp it, or begin to tap into this power, we would be in awe as the enemy is blown away!

So, what is this armor that we are to don with confidence and the authority of the Most High? Number one, we are to snugly fit upon our heads the Helmet of Salvation which is all about having right, faith-filled, Christ-like thinking, Bible mindsets, with thoughts set upon things above and not on earthly things and on the incredible hope of eternal salvation in the presence of the Living God! Next we are to put on our dazzling Belt of Truth which holds it all together, the belt which we are to wear wherever we go and whenever we go there. We also lace up tightly the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace, an unshakable peace that the world cannot give nor understands; shoes that stabilize us in the slipperiest and bloodiest of battlefields and keep us firmly planted in the Word rather than circumstances. We are take up the body-sized Shield of Faith that covers us completely, successfully protecting us defensively and offensively, and if watered by the Word and oiled by the daily anointing of the Spirit will quench every fiery dart of the enemy. Then taking up the Sword of the Spirit that is the Word of God we are called to jab the very evil that would steal, kill and destroy us. With the truth of the Word of God supernaturally inspired by the Spirit through us in prayer deals a death blow to the enemy.

Indeed we have been dressed by God to kill a very real, demonic enemy.

But, there is one piece of armor…one more vital bit of equipment that cannot be overlooked, for to go into battle without it was beyond heedless and meant certain death. This life saving, undeniably important protection is the Breastplate of Righteousness.

The Roman Breastplate in Jesus’ Day

“The breastplate was a central part of the Roman soldier’s armor—it provided protection for the torso, which contains vital organs like the heart, lungs and so on. Without a breastplate, a soldier would be asking for death, as any attack could instantly become fatal. With a sturdy breastplate, the very same attacks become ineffective and useless, as blows glance off the armor,” (Bible Study Guides).

“The Romans had the ideas for armor design which provided light weight combined with ease of movement and protection from blows. This breastplate was attached to the belt by leather thongs passed through rings on the bottom to keep it solidly attached. It was anchored to the belt, and it was above the belt. Note: the belt had to be put on first, then the breastplate,” (The Christian Arsenal).

“The Roman breastplate was typically made of bronze, backed with leather. It was designed to protect the vital area. A blow through this was usually fatal,” (Chuck Missler).

The Biblical Breastplate

“The breastplate or heart-guard that Paul was recommending was not made of hard metal, but of something much stronger. It is made of righteousness. The Greek word used for righteousness is dikaiosune, Strong’s #1343, defined as “equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification.” Vine’s defines the word as “the character or quality of being right or just”; it was formerly spelled ‘rightwiseness,’ which clearly expresses the meaning.” (Dan Wesol).

Truly, righteousness is “the conformity to the claims of higher authority and stands in opposition to… lawlessness,” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary, pg 458). Thus, righteousness is the crucifying of our way of living and the complete surrender to living life God’s way. This is our breastplate.

Man’s Righteousness Vs. God’s

Throughout the history of the world, individuals and people groups, false religions and cults of all kinds have sought to do good in order to please a transcendent being far beyond themselves in order to accrue enough credit in the heavenlies for the sake of their uncertain eternal security. Much has been done to appease countless gods and goddesses, and innumerable moments have passed as people do good for others simply because it makes them feel good to do so. The social gospel is highly active even today, and anyone and everyone can and does get caught up in the wave of it. “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away,” (Isaiah 64:6). “As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one,” (Romans 3:10-13).

Even Christians can get caught up in the “doing good” bug, and become driven by good works and achieving goals and seeking to look good in the eyes of others. But, “Putting on His breastplate of righteousness is not “putting on” your own good works, integrity, or honesty. It is not “putting on” Bible reading and prayer. It is not “putting on” church attendance. When we put on the cloak of His righteousness, it contrasts with our righteousness,” (Chuck Missler). For indeed, righteousness is all about God and not about us at all. The Lord is the source of all righteousness, even the very foundation of His throne is righteousness and justice and the heavens declare His righteousness and all people have seen His glory (Psalm 97).

Application: Being Not Just Doing

The greatest glory of God’s righteousness has been exemplified for all to see through Jesus Christ His beloved Son. As Ephesians 2:8-10 reads, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” The incredible magnitude of God’s righteousness superseding our goodness is apparent in this passage. On top of this is that undeserving as we are we have been made God’s righteousness (II Corinthians 5:21) and because of this, we have been empowered us to do righteous deeds the right way and for the right reason. This is righteousness.

“People have different ideas about righteousness. We must understand that righteousness is something we are, not something we do. Righteousness within us affects what we do, but what we do does not make us righteous,” (Chuck Missler).

Now that we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ, “let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love…” (I Thessalonians 5:8). Thus, the breastplate of righteousness is also a breastplate of faith and love: faith because without faith it is impossible to please God, and love because Jesus said that if we believe in Him we will walk in love. Righteousness, therefore, has everything to do with having faith in Jesus and walking in love.

In Job we see a picture of what righteousness looks like. Job 29:12-17 says, “Because I delivered the poor who cried out, The fatherless and the one who had no helper. The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban. I was eyes to the blind, And I was feet to the lame. I was a father to the poor, And I searched out the case that I did not know. I broke the fangs of the wicked, And plucked the victim from his teeth.” First John 3:16-17 also says, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

God in all of His glory, seated high upon His majestic throne, perceived our dire need as we wallowed destitute and condemned in sin’s muck and mire. But… God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not parish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). And that same selfless attitude of Christ is to be in us (Philippians 2), for that is righteousness in action.

Conclusion

A vital part of our arsenal is the Breastplate of Righteousness. With righteousness our hearts, which are the well-spring of life, are guarded above all else. This righteousness is from God alone for only God is righteous, and He because of what Jesus did on the cross and in His resurrection has made us righteous and righteousness. Christ our great High Priest has made us a holy priesthood (I Peter 2:5) and as such we are to be “clothed in righteousness” (Psalm 132:9). Not only are we to be clothed in righteousness, but we are the righteousness of God in Christ. Thus, we no longer are to walk in fear, but in faith. We are no longer to walk in selfish impatience but in love. This righteousness that God has made us through Christ and that is exemplified through faith and love in action is what guards our hearts from the enemy’s continual attacks. Let us then put on the breastplate of righteousness. And having suited up in the full armor of God’s light, let us stand unwaveringly and unashamedly in this ever darkening, depraved, deceived world that is quickly passing away. Jesus is coming soon! Let us “gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (I Peter 1:13), as we look for our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13).

Sources:

Bible Study Guides, “Series 3 – The Great Teachings of the Bible and What They Mean for You: The Armor of God,” http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-teachings/armor-of-god-breasplate-of-righteousness.htm.

Margaret Minnicks, “The Whole Armor of God,” https://owlcation.com/humanities/Put-On-The-Whole-Armor-of-God.

Chuck Missler, “The Breastplate of Righteousness,” http://khouse.org/articles/1996/269/

Dan Wesol, “Putting on the Breastplate,” http://www.heraldmag.org/2009/09jf_2.htm

The Christian Arsenal, “The Full Armor of God,” http://www.christianarsenal.com/Christian_Arsenal/Full_Armor_of_God.html

Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament

Behold God’s Lamb!

Tags

Abraham sacrificing Isaac, Ben Hur, Genesis 22, Genesis 3:15, God Will Provide A Lamb, Hebrews 11:17-19, Jesus the Lamb of God, Matthew 21, Michael Card, Palm Sunday, Passover, Passover Lamb, This Must Be The Lamb

Time of Remembrance

Palm Sunday was truly a special day to commemorate Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey. It was the day wherein the people cried out “Hosanna in the highest” while waving palm branches, cheering loudly, and laying their coats in the road (Matthew 21). Let’s think on that stirring scene of Jesus being heralded as their Davidic king of salvation by a people unprepared for Him to die on a shameful cross just four days later. What the Jews of Jesus’ day strongly desired was a conquering king to deliver them from Roman oppression and to restore the kingdom to them as promised to David. But, unbeknownst to them, God had sent them His sacrificial Lamb who would save them from something mightier and more terrible than Rome. This Lamb would by His shed blood save them from their sin and put them back in right standing with God the Father.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem humbly upon the foal of a donkey, it was on the 10^th of the first month on God’s calender. In the history of the Jews this was the day on which they were to select a lamb for the feast of Passover that would come four days later. They selected the lamb on the 10^th and were to bring it into their homes. They were to watch it to make sure that it was truly without spot and without wrinkle. Plus, they might even get attached to the cute little lamb that in four days they would kill before the Lord.

Exodus 12 is the first time that God stipulated that this was to be done. At that time the children of Israel were in Egypt. Nine plagues had already struck the Egyptians, and a tenth was about to wipe out all of the firstborn. It was then that God told the Jews to prepare a spotless lamb.

Genesis 3:15

Such a promise of salvation was not first seen in Exodus 12, however. It is in Genesis 3:15 that we first behold this promise:

15 And I will put enmity between thee [the serpent] and the woman, and between thy seed [the serpent’s] and her seed [Jesus]; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Genesis 22

Furthermore, we also see this promise in the story of Abraham when he is taking his son Isaac to sacrifice him for God in Genesis 22:1-2,6-13

“And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.”

God Will Provide “Himself” A Lamb

It is said in Hebrews 11:17-19 says of Abraham,

“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”

Thus, Abraham still believed that God would fulfill His Word regarding salvation through the line of Isaac the son of promise. He never gave upon believing what God had said, and therefore, believed that God could even resurrect Isaac.

Furthermore, since every word of God is inspired, it is important to note Abraham’s prophetic words, “God will provide Himself a lamb.” It does not say, God will provide a lamb FOR Himself. No. It quite clearly implies in the Hebrew text that God will provide Himself as a Lamb. For indeed, it is believed that Golgotha is more than likely the mountain to which God directed Abraham in the land of Moriah. Thus, Jesus died as the provided Lamb on the very spot where Isaac was to have been a sacrifice.

1 Peter 1:18-25

First Peter 1 sheds greater light on this concept of God as the Lamb.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.25 …And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

Behold! The Lamb of God!

And so, before Jesus was ever born or began His ministry, and well before God told the Jews in Egypt to sacrifice a spotless lamb; even before He taught His people that “without blood there is no remission” of sins (Hebrews 9:22), even before Abraham beheld the ram caught in the thicket, even before the world was created, before the foundations of Earth were laid, even before God said “Let there be light,” it was planned that Jesus would be the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. Just as God taught the Jews to select a spotless lamb, God Himself selected the LAMB who died once for all and whose shed blood covers all who believe (Hebrews 9:23-28, 10:10).

And it was on Palm Sunday that God ushered His perfect, humble, spotless Lamb into Jerusalem in front of the cheering crowd. It was on Palm Sunday that God’s Lamb Jesus was brought into God’s house (the Temple) where He was observed and questioned for four days to see if He was perfect. It was on Palm Sunday that God’s plan of salvation though His Lamb was nearing its grand unveiling.

It was on Passover, otherwise known as Good Friday, that Jesus was mocked, beaten, given a ridiculous, illegal trial wherein He was falsely accused, was jeered, spit upon, robed in purple, and crowned with thorns (like the ram in the thicket). It was on Passover, that Jesus, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, bore on His back our sins, our infirmities, our pain, our grief (Isaiah 53). It was on Passover that Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith…for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). It was on Passover that God profoundly tore the veil of the Temple in two, right down the middle from top to bottom, as a New Covenant was created in Christ’s blood. All of this detail, this elaborate symphony of grace, was intricately woven throughout the holy Scriptures through promises from the beginning of time. And on Passover…the mystery literally was unveiled.

***********************

Sources:

On the word “Hosanna”: thttp://www.preceptaustin.org/hosanna-save_now

All Bible Quotes taken from the KJV Bible: https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org

 

Outstanding Songs and Scenes that Communicate This Truth of Christ as the LAMB:

Born As The Lamb

Tags

Jesus born during lambing season, Jesus the Lamb of God, Jesus the Passover Lamb, Jesus' birth, Jonathan Cahn, Lamb of God, Luke 2, Luke 2:1-14, Shepherds watching their flocks by night, The Time of Jesus' Birth, When was Jesus born?

Have you ever wondered why the angels announced the tidings of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds? (Luke 2:1-14) Why not announce it to carpenters or fishermen or merchants or priests or kings? I have heard sermons and teachings about shepherds and how dirty and repulsive and disreputable they were, and that God therefore brought these tidings to the lowest of the low. But, in all my reading and years of research I have not found in the Old Testament a basis for shepherds being scoundrels. Instead what I have seen is that many important individuals in the Old Testament were shepherds and were not frowned upon, such as Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and David and many others in Israel. Furthermore, God calls Himself a shepherd in Ezekiel 34, and David in Psalm 23 calls God his shepherd.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters.”

The shepherds watching their flocks by night in Bethlehem the evening of Jesus’ birth were not just any old shepherds however, and the sheep raised in Bethlehem were not just any old sheep. Shepherds in Bethlehem, according to Jewish history, were specifically those who were raising flocks for Temple sacrifice in neighboring Jerusalem and for all the sacrifices for God’s feast days, including Passover.

Not only this, but shepherds only kept watch over their flocks by night when it was “lambing season”. Lambing season was the time of year when baby lambs were born. It was then that shepherds had to be on high alert. A mother lamb often carried more than one lamb in her womb (upwards to 3), and so the shepherds had to be close at hand in case those little lambs got all tangled up and were not being birthed properly. So, these were very important Temple shepherds and very important sacrificial sheep.

Furthermore, little lambs were born in the Spring (sometimes into the early summer), and specifically the lambs for Passover would have to have been born one year before the Passover on which they would be sacrificed. After all, it is stipulated in scripture that the spotless lambs sacrificed on Passover were to be one year old (Exodus 12:5).

But, still, why would the Angel of the LORD proclaim to these important shepherds that the Messiah had been born?

We can find the simple answer to this in John 1:29, “The next day when John [the baptist] seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” First Peter 1:19-20 says, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you…”

The Angel of the LORD and the angelic host of heaven revealed this message of the Savior to the Temple shepherds on a night that they were watching for lambs to be birthed among the Temple sheep because Jesus was the spotless LAMB of God spoken of in Isaiah 53 who had come into the world to die as a Temple sacrifice on Passover. And since God is so orderly and is indeed the one who created the times and seasons and holy days, at what better time for Jesus to be born than at the time of year when all other Passover lambs were being birthed in the fields? It is no wonder then that Jesus, the Lamb of God, was born among Temple sheep in Bethlehem during lambing season in the Spring around Passover and was laid in a humble manger. In this timeless passage (Luke 2) of remarkable simplicity and incredible power, God reveals to us His fulfillment of prophecy with intricate precision and glorious harmony.

Helpful Source:

Jonathan Cahn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptlsXtTf6n0

God’s Still Plays Music On Broken Chords

Tags

2 Corinthians 3, 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, Bach, Bach's Chromatic Fantasy, Chromatic Fantasy, Corrie ten Boom, Glory of God, Johann Sebastian Bach, Naomi, The Book of Ruth, Tramp for the Lord, Treasures in Earthen Vessels, Treasures in Jars of Clay

There is a true story found in the pages of a book entitled, Tramp for the Lord. The story is that of brokenness, specifically the brokenness of the country of Germany after WWII. The people of that nation were devastated at the end of the war, and many were astounded to hear of Hitler’s atrocities. Some who had had positions of importance had lost everything, including their home, their job, their family, and their dignity.

It was into this scene that Corrie ten Boom enters, turning a concentration camp of horror into a transitional home for those who were destitute. While visiting such a transformed facility, she met an older woman who sat in a corner of a large room that she shared with three families. The woman had been a concert pianist and a professor of music before the war. Now, she had lost everything. However, a pastor offered her the use of a piano miles away in a church that had been demolished by bombs, but the piano was untouched.

One thing led to another, and Corrie ten Boom was invited to hear this woman play. After walking miles and miles (since there was no other mode of transportation), they finally reached their destination. As the woman sat down to play, she asked Corrie if she would like to hear something in particular. Breathing a prayer, Corrie responded, “The Chromatic Fantasy” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ5IkHlKQrw). Well, Ms. Ten Boom was appalled with her selection for it is one of Bach’s (and truly one of classical music’s) most difficult pieces ever written. Not only this, but though the piano had survived the bombs it had not survived the inclement weather. It was soggy, dilapidated, with all of its peddles broken off. The ivory of the keys was non-existant, and the chords were terribly rusting and some were even broken. Corrie looked on in horror, wondering what on earth was about to happen.

The older concert pianist smiled however, poised her fingers above the broken keys, and prepared to play. Her fingers flew across those decaying keys, and unexpected heavenly music danced in Corrie ten Boom’s shocked ears. How could such a weather worn piano play with such elegance, and how could such a war-crushed woman play with such poise? (For the rest of the story read: Tramp for the Lord, page 47-50, “Music from Broken Chords”).

We all in a way are like that piano. Even the woman in the story was like that weathered, battered piano. We too are weathered. She thought life had robbed her and left her a mere shell, devoid of purpose. We too have been through experiences that have left us less than perfect. The rains of life have left us soggy but not unusable. The rust of life has crept up on us over time, even as weeds encroach upon a garden, but our chords are still musical. We too are still capable of playing beautiful music. We too are vessels that can still be used by God.

There are many in the Bible who were weathered and worn, but one in particular stood out to me, and her name is Naomi. We read in the book of Ruth that Naomi first had to leave her home, family and friends behind because of a devastating famine (vs. 1). Then, while trying to survive in a foreign land, her husband died (vs. 3). Still reeling from the loss of her husband and hoping that all was turning around, Naomi went on to lose not one but both of her childless sons (vs. 5). All too easily we can glance over those verses and hurry on to the rest of the story. But truly it is astounding to note that in a mere 5 verses we catch a glimpse of the enormity of Naomi’s losses. For indeed, she’s lost everything. In verse 13 she states that she felt the hand of the Lord was against her (vs 13). Later when she returns to the land of Israel, she tells her old friends to call her Mara meaning “bitter” instead of Naomi which means “sweet” (vs 20). She goes on to say that when her family and she had left the land of Israel because of the famine, her heart and life had been full. There may have been a horrible famine, but life was good. However now, though she still owned the land, it meant nothing to her for she was returning to it empty (vs 21). She had no husband, no sons, no grandchildren and no prospect of them, no money and no prospect of it, and therefore, no future. Or so she thought…

For the story doesn’t end there, for unbeknownst to her, her daughter-in-law, the young, quiet, gentle, Moabite woman who begs to accompany her in her devastation and despair, is ordained by God to become the great grandmother of King David and was to be in the lineage of Jesus, the Savior of the World.

But, all too often we can be like Naomi, focused on our losses, focused how we used to be full but now are empty, focused on the past, thinking we’ve no future. The devil loves to keep us in the slough of despond, wallowing about unable to move beyond our present experiences. Or maybe we think our best days are over, that we’ve no real purpose now. The devil loves to keep us thinking like this too, for it keeps our minds on what we are not, instead of on who God is in us.

In 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 we read,

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

Now, this passage talks to us about “light” and “earthen vessels” and “glory”. So let’s take a closer look!

First of all, what is this “light”? In Genesis 1 God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God separated the light from the darkness. This was a physical light that the darkness could not overwhelm. In John 1 God said He sent the Light of Jesus into the World. He is the spiritual light of the world that the darkness could not understand nor overcome. This same light of Jesus has shined in our hearts, and His fellowship with us has brought about illumination to our spirits that we might begin to comprehend who He truly is.

Second of all, what are the “earthen vessels”? In Exodus 31-32 God wrote His law on actual stone tablets. It says that with His finger He wrote it and engraved it. However, God predicted that the day would come when He would write His Word upon the hearts of His people and not on stone. 2 Corinthians 3:3 states that Christians are the “epistles” or letter of Christ written by the Spirit of God on “fleshly tables of the heart.” Indeed, we are those “fleshly tables,” those “earthen vessels” made of clay and extremely fragile. Nevertheless, upon these earthen vessels are written the very Words of God.

And lastly, what is “glory”? “Glory” means to think or recognize. It is the value of something or someone based on God’s perfect objective opinion. When speaking of the glory of God it means His unchanging essence.

When we give God glory we are giving Him His full recognition. Thus, the “glory of God” is essentially what He is, and the “glory of man” is what God created him to be.

2 Corinthians 3:7,9,13, 18 states,

“But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance…for if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory…And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished…”

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Now, from these passages it appears that “glory” also has a light to it, because Moses had to veil his face because of the glory of God that shone from it. Not only did Moses’ face glow, but the glow faded. It was actually more the fading of the light that was covered by the veil than the glow.

However, the glory of God in the “face of Jesus” is unfading and undimmed, and we all look with unveiled face upon His radiance and splendor, and are changed from glory to glory to look more and more like Him. Though we are simple, fragile pottery made of clay, He has written His Word on us and has filled us with the treasures of His light and understanding. Each of us is written on by God, filled with the unfading glory of God, and are storage vessels of God’s vast treasure. We contain the wealth of heaven, glow with God’s essence and are engraved by God’s finger.

No, we may not be the grandparents of a king nor may we be in the lineage of the Savior of the World, but we are all individually God’s masterpieces created for good works in Christ, and those good works don’t end when we hit a certain age or when we lose a spouse or when we are unemployed or when we think we have no purpose. Bitter Naomi who thought life was over had impacted a young woman, altering that young woman’s life forever. In spite of all of Naomi’s disappointments and disillusionment, Ruth had seen the one true and real God in Naomi, and because of this, Ruth abandoned everything to follow Naomi and her God. Naomi still had purpose even when she thought she didn’t. Naomi thought she was too old, but she wasn’t. Naomi had given up, but God hadn’t.

Let us not limit God! For, indeed, no matter how broken we are, no matter how disappointed we are, no matter how flawed we are, no matter how old we are, no matter if our families are Christian or not, no matter how the rains of life have left us rusted and the strings of our piano broken, God has chosen to write upon us, to light us up with His glory, to stash His treasure into these vessels of clay, and to play His celestial music through our broken chords.

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

Tags

2 Timothy 2:15, Biblical Interpretation, Corrie ten Boom, Hermeneutics, Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth, Text Without Context Is Pretext

Last Bible Study

Last time we looked at 2 Timothy 3:15-17 which states that every letter and smallest mark of Scripture is holy to the Lord and every book therein is God-breathed or inspired. There is not the smallest part of Scripture that is not inspired, and Jesus even states that not one jot or tittle of the Bible will pass away until ALL is fulfilled (Matthew 5:18). Thus, as the inspired Word it is God’s voice to us, through which the Spirit can lead us into all truth. In the words of Corrie ten Boom, “Now you are listening to the voice of God. Keep listening. He has much more to say to you.”

The importance of God’s Word thus being established, let’s move on into the area of how we are to interpret the Bible.

Our Passage For Today

Second Timothy 2:15 states, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” In other words we are to “Zealously and diligently make every effort to stand approved (just as metal is in the fire) to God, an unashamed workman who accurately, correctly and skillfully handles the Word of Truth.” Since this is so imperative and important, what does it mean to “rightly divide” the Scripture?

Food For Thought

Let’s say it’s your job to assign everyone a duty based on their gifting. Some of you may think you know someone, we’ll call him “Doug”, pretty well just by looking at him, and you need to give him a job. So, because he likes music you decide he’s going to be a ballerina. You give him ballet slippers, a tutu, and tights. Did you interpret him correctly? Did you apply him to the right work? NO! “Doug” likes to sing, not dance!! (But, he says that if he had to do ballet he’d want a pink tutu like his granddaughters have!)

Your next assignment is to buy snacks for “Jennifer”. You haven’t really talked with her much, but you think you know her pretty well because you see her in the dining room every day. Something you always see on her tray is potato chips so you assume that she prefers salty snacks. So you buy her all sorts of salty things. But, did you interpret her correctly? Did you apply the correct snacks to her? NO! “Jennifer” prefers sweets!

Lastly you are to assign someone to be a hostess at a large party. Since you have seen “Sally” interacting with many different people, laughing in the hallway, dining room, and activity room you think she must be an extrovert who is good at socializing. So, you assign her to the role of party planner and hostess. But, were you right in your assumption based on your observations? NO!! “Sally” does not like parties nor is good at small talk and socializing!!

It’s all about CONTEXT. For years in school, professors would say, “Context, context, context.”

After all, a TEXT without CONTEXT is PRETEXT. A pretext is a half-truth based on faulty understandings. So, when we sit down and read the Bible, one must read it within context. How do we keep things in context?

1.) Look at the whole chapter, not just a single verse.

2.) Look at the whole book, not just the chapter.

Who is the audience?

How would the audience have understood that passage?

Who is the author?

What was happening historically/culturally at that time?

Ex. Luke 10:3-4 “Go your ways: behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.”

Now that sounds downright unfriendly!!! Don’t salute anyone? However, Salute does not mean “hi” but was an elaborate form of greeting that included sitting down together and lots of talking about family and friends and could last far more than an hour!!

Be careful with grammar that appears contradictory:

Ex. Habakkuk 1:13

“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity…”

Does NOT mean that God doesn’t see evil. What it means is that God does not condone evil.

Ex. 1 John 5:18 “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not.”

Compared with 1 John 1:10 “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

So, what is going on here? Grammar!! When it says that those born of God sinneth not, it means they do not “habitually sin” anymore. We all have sinned in the past, but we are now no longer habitually sinning.

**Whenever we think there is a contradiction in the Bible, that seeming contradiction is because of our own misunderstanding of the grammar or history/culture of the time! The Bible NEVER contradicts itself!!!**

Ex. My friend and the yoke vs. yolk. Jesus said, My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Well, my high school friend thought this meant an over-easy yolk of an egg. Not only is this a grammatical issue but is a spelling issue!! After all, Jesus was speaking about a yoke for oxen not the yolk of an egg!!

3.) Look at books by the same author to see if something more is said on the topic

4.) Look at books by different authors in the New Testament

The topic of “Judging” in Matthew 7 vs. Corinthians 6

5.) Look at the books by different authors in the Old Testament.

Only AFTER a thorough examination are we to APPLY the Word to us today. It is only after ALL of this that we can more accurately apply Scripture to our daily lives.

This may seem like a lot. You might think, shouldn’t we just read it? Just reading it is a good start, but, 2 Timothy states that we are to skillfully handle the Sword of the Spirit that is the Word of God. And, Proverbs 25:2 states, “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” We are not merely to read; we are to search through God’s Word as for buried treasure.

We must not assume or jump to conclusions when reading God’s Word. We may think we understand it because we read through it completely at some point in our lives or because we heard a good sermon on the passage or we memorized that passage when we were ten. But, that is not “rightly dividing”. When it says in 2 Timothy that we are to “Study”, that means we are to do so “zealously, making every effort with all earnestness”. First Peter 2:2 says, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby…” We’re supposed to be hungry for God’s Word. For according to Jesus, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Our Current Passage

Now, according to 2 Timothy 2:15, why are we to “rightly divide” the Bible? To show ourselves “approved unto God”. Approved carries the concept of metal that has been tried in the fire. For it goes on to say in verses 20-21, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Thus, those who are studying God’s Word, seeking its hidden treasures, hungering and thirsting for it like babies are ravenous for nourishment, are like gold and silver that have been refined in the fire, are vessels of honor in God’s house, and able to please Him.

The Chapter

In contrast to the one who diligently studies the Bible, 2 Timothy 2 speaks of those who do not study God’s Word, but are instead, studying man’s words such as the words of their own opinions, empty discussions, foolish questions, and quarreling. They are those who are “ever learning” but “never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).

The Book

Second Timothy is the last of Paul’s epistles, and is written to a young pastor named Timothy. He is imprisoned in Rome. Nero is emperor in the 60s. Paul is facing his own imminent execution. Young Timothy is pastoring in Ephesus (1:18; 4:19), and is facing persecution outside of the church and false teachers inside of the church. Since evil words from seducers and deceivers were flying everywhere like fiery darts, Timothy is to “Study to show himself approved, rightly dividing the word of truth.” He is to preach that word of truth and sound doctrine and make “full proof of his ministry” (4:1-5).

Paul’s Other Letters

The subject of Knowing God’s Word is emphasized in Paul’s other letters as well. In 1 Corinthians he calls them spiritual babes who still need milk when they should be ready for the meat of the Word. And in Galatians he calls them foolish for abandoning the unpolluted Gospel for another Gospel of works.

The New Testament

Hebrews 5:11-14 says that the readers were “dull of hearing” and were in need of milk instead of meat, and are therefore, “unskilful in the word of righteousness…but strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

And Acts 17 praises the Berean people for searching the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul taught was true.

The Old Testament

And then in the Old Testament we see such verses as Deuteronomy 8:3 which Jesus quoted, “…that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live” and Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man…[whose] delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night”, and Proverbs 6:23, “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”

Conclusion

Just because Brother “Doug” loves music does not make him a dancer much less a ballerina. Just because Sister “Jennifer” is seen to have a bag of potato chips at her table does not mean that she prefers salty snacks over sweet ones. And just because Sister “Sally” is heard talking and laughing with numerous people does not mean she would ever be a gifted socialite or perfect party planner. We must not just assume things with each other, thinking that we know each other.

Even so, we don’t want to assume to know the Bible, but must desire to know the Scriptures correctly so that we can correctly apply it to our lives and thus, glorify God. Let us therefore, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Why We Study The Word

Tags

2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:1, 2 Timothy 3:13-16, 2 Timothy 3:16, Corrie ten Boom, Ephesians 6, Genesis 3, God-breathed, Holy Scripture, Jot and tittle, Matthew 5:18, pasa graphe, ta hiera grammata, the last days, Tramp for the Lord

2 Timothy 3:1, 13-16 reads:

“1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

What Corrie ten Boom said is true: “Now you are listening to the voice of God. Keep listening. He has much more to say to you,” (Corrie ten Boom, Tramp for the Lord, page 127-130). Oh how God longs for His people to be in His word, to be listening to His voice written there. How often we run to devotionals, to popular literature by others about what they think the Bible says, and even to uninspired sermons based on the opinions of commentators and theologians. But what about His word that lies dusty on a shelf or under a stack of other books or in a drawer or laying in a corner somewhere? And when we do open it, we become so distracted that we don’t get much read and very little of it is thought about.

But, according to Jesus, we shall not live by bread (food) alone, but by every word of God (Matthew 4). And Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16 says that, “All Scripture is inspired.” The Greek for inspired there is God-breathed. This is the same word that is used in Genesis when it says that God breathed into Adam and Eve the breath of life, and they became living souls. God’s word is God-breathed too. Thus, it is “living and active” (Hebrews 4) and life giving.

I’m going to go just a little bit deeper a minute. Stick with me if you can.

There are two Greek words used for the Word of God in these verses. Ta hiera grammata meaning “holy scriptures” and pasa graphe meaning “all Scripture”. So….there are two different words here used for Scripture. Graphe and Grammata.

In verse 15 “holy Scripture”, reveals to us that every microscopic detail matters to God and has been consecrated to Him. To begin with, the adjective used to define writings/Scripture is the term SACRED, which is hieros in the Greek meaning, “sacred and that which may not be violated” and refers to one’s position of office not one’s character. Thus, the scriptures have been given a holy position by God Himself. They are holy because He has consecrated them and made them holy. The Scriptures that have been consecrated are the very “letters of the alphabet,” even each book is made up of those letters. The letters of the alphabet mentioned here would be the letters of the Hebrew alphabet specifically, which Timothy had been trained up in since a child. And these sacred letters of the Hebrew alphabet make up the words of the books of the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures). These letters and individual books have been made holy by the Lord.

What is the importance of every letter in Scripture? Jesus in Matthew 5:18 states, that “18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” A iota/jot is the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and a tittle is the Greek word keraia which refers to the small stroke of the pen that helped to distinguish the difference between the letters. Both the iota and keraia are extremely small, yet extremely important! After all, Jesus said that they are. The smallest marks of the pen in the Scriptures is extraordinarily significant. Indeed, every letter makes up a specific word, and every mark (that distinguished one letter from another) makes the message clearer. Indeed, every letter and mark is sacred, for all will be brought to pass.

In verse 16, ALL is the Greek word pasa meaning “every part of it together, and every part of the whole respectively and includes the idea of oneness, a totality of the whole”. Graphe is the Greek word most often used for Scriptures in the Bible. Thus, it could read, “every part of the Scriptures all together.”

Thus, when Paul writes that “all Scripture is God-breathed” he means quite clearly that every smallest letter and every tiniest mark is God-inspired. Not even the smallest part can be avoided, for every part of it all together is God-breathed and will be fulfilled. For indeed, God honors His word above His name (Psalm 138:2). Thus, He will bring every part of it to pass, both Old and New.

Now, according to this passage why is it important to know that the Bible in its totality is God-breathed?

1. We’re living in the last days and those perilous times are upon us. Evil men and seducers are waxing worse and worse, even infiltrating the Church, polluting the Gospel, and leading away believers into deception. There is an unseen war, and we are apart of it. Our weapon is the Word of God (Ephesians 6). There is a war of words, and the only way to win it is to know the Word. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth,” (2 Timothy 2:15).

2. In them is the Gospel of salvation through Jesus (John 5:39, 46-47).

3. Furthermore, it changes us from the inside out, and is “profitable”

*for doctrine (biblically sound beliefs),

*for reproof (showing us where we are wrong),

*for correction (showing us the right way, getting us back on the right path),

*and for instruction in righteousness (it helps us put the Word of God to Action).

A lot of us have been in church a lot of years. A lot of us attended Sunday school as children. A lot of us have known Jesus a long time. But, I encourage us to continue reading the Bible. Don’t let tv or devotionals get in the way. If your eyes can’t read too well anymore, have someone read it to you. There is also the Bible on cassette tape or cd. You see, the Word of God is life for us. It is the voice of God to us. As Corrie ten Boom said, “Now you are listening to the voice of God. Keep listening. He has much more to say to you.”

We Are At War: The Belt of Truth

Tags

1 Samuel 17, Belt of Truth, David and Goliath, Ephesians 6, Full Armor of God, Genesis 3, Matthew 4, Rick Renner, Roman military belt, Stefanie Hoss

We have been learning about the full armor of God and its importance in our daily lives. We have learned about the reality of the warfare raging around us, that we do not wrestle with people but we do wrestle with very real spiritual entities which we cannot see. Because we are wrestling in hand-to-hand combat with spiritual forces, we are to be clad in God’s armor of light. This armor is composed of pieces that are woven intricately together. We started by looking at the beautifully ornate yet impenetrable, irreplaceable helmet of salvation and how it is there to protect our thinking, for we have been given the mind of Christ. The helmet is one of wholeness, security, right thinking, renewal, a shield from destructive mindsets and emotions. It is a helmet that enables us to change our form and be transfigured from the earthly to the spiritual, from darkness to light.

Today, we’re moving on to the belt of truth. Ephesians 6:14 reads, “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth….”

When dressed for battle, everyone could identify a Roman soldier without problem. But, when off duty, was there something that still made him recognizable?

Unlike the present day and age wherein everyone on vacation, running errands or lounging around looks and dresses essentially the same, in Jesus’ day, according to researcher and professor Stefanie Hoss, “In Rome, a man’s dress and his social cultural and political identity in Roman society were directly connected.”

Thus, there was something about the Roman soldier’s dress and manner that led an onlooker to quickly identify him as a soldier. So, what was it about his clothing that defined him? His loinbelt with sword attached and shoes (Stefanie Hoss, “A Theoretical Approach to Roman Military Belts,” http://www.academia.edu/4849015/A_Theoretical_Approach_to_Roman_Military_Belts). (Since we’ll be talking about the shoes and sword later, we won’t address them today. We’re going to focus on the belt.) According to researchers and archeologists, the Roman military belt was “decorated with elaborate buckles, metal plates, strp-ends and other attachments, which made it heavy, eye-catching and jingly. Together with the crunch of hob-nailed sandals, the jingling of the metal belt pieces must have given soldiers a distinctive sound, announcing their presence” (Stefanie Hoss, “The Roman Military Belt,” http://www.academia.edu/212354/The_Roman_Military_Belt). Not only this, but Roman soldiers walked differently and had a distinctive stance because their belts were heavy (actually all of their armor was heavy). Even when not on the battlefield, this heavy belt with its sword was worn with pride. Truly the belt was the mark of soldier, and was symbolic of who he was. To take it away (such as they did at times for disciplinary reasons), was shameful and humiliating.

Furthermore, when used in battle, Rick Renner states that, “…the Roman soldier’s loinbelt was the piece of armor that held all the other pieces together…When not in use, his shield was hung on a special clip on the other side of his loinbelt. The pouch that carried his arrows rested on a small ledge attached to his loinbelt on his backside. Even his breastplate was attached in some places to his loinbelt.

You can see why the loinbelt was absolutely essential to the Roman soldier in order for him to be confident in battle. With that belt securely fastened, he could be assured that all the other pieces of his equipment would stay in place, enabling him to move quickly and fight with great fury.

Thus, the loinbelt was the most vital part of all the weaponry the Roman soldier wore” (Rick Renner, “The Most Essential Weapon In Your Spiritual Arsenal,” https://renner.org/the-most-essential-weapon-in-your-spiritual-arsenal/).

Thus, whether on the battlefield or while recreating, the Roman soldier’s belt was not only a recognizable marker and proud symbol but was apart of who he was. His identity was wrapped up in it, and a true soldier would never be without it.

Application

So, how do we apply this?

There are a lot of facts in this life, but facts are not truth. In the story of David and Goliath this is made very clear.

First Samuel 17 states beginning in verse 4, “And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.”

Fact number one: Goliath is a champion meaning, he’s done this many times before and won, so….he’s frightening in reputation

Fact number two: Goliath is massive, after all everything he’s wearing is heavy and long and tall and wide etc. So….he’s frightening in appearance

Fact number three: He’s boastful and charismatic and loud. So….he’s frightening in speech

These are facts that the Israelite soldiers were well aware of and took very seriously, after all it says that “they were dismayed and greatly afraid.”

Then comes David who sees, hears and knows the facts like everyone else, BUT he does sees God’s appearance, hears God’s words, and knows of God’s reputation better than Goliaths. As David stated to King Saul, “Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:35-37).

David held onto that truth as he marched out to meet the frightening, very real, factual giant with only a stone and sling shot. Though Goliath mocks him, David boldly exclaimed the TRUTH,

“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands” (1 Samuel 17:45-47).

Our application of this timeless truth is not so different from what David did, only our adversary is unseen. But, the message is the same.

Now, how can this look for us?

The enemy uses a fact…yes, he tells us something factual…but then he turns it on us and gets us to believe a lie. He might say, “You live in a care center.” Yes, that’s a fact. Then comes the lie. “So, you have no purpose now.” Or he might say, “You’re just a housewife and mother.” Again, that’s a fact, but he always spins it. “So, you’re not important.” Or he might say, “You work as a cook or a salesman or whatever it is that you do.” And then he’ll state the lie that you again believe, “So, you’ll never amount to anything.” Or he again might say, “You’re not married.” Okay, that may be a fact. But then comes the lie, “Because you’re not worth it,” or “you’re not handsome/pretty enough” or “because you’re too shy or too outgoing.” And the more we think on that lie which is based in fact (so he gets us all confused) the farther away from truth we get, and we become like the children of Israel who huddled together at the sound of Goliath’s voice. So long as we ingest the poison, the more poisoned we’ll become. The more we resonate with the lie, the farther from truth we’ll wander. The more we consider the deception, the more self-focused and less God-focused we’ll get. Until our weaknesses and shortcomings are magnified larger than God’s Word, even God Himself.

So, how can we better respond?

Remember Eve in Genesis 3. Her mistake was not in her facts, but rather, her mistake was in arguing the facts with the most cunning of all creatures, the wisest of God’s creation. Our adversary is not stupid. He may be repetitive, but he’s not dumb. He knows we are like silly sheep and easily duped. So, here’s one way to NOT respond: Don’t argue facts with the enemy. Usually he’s got the facts right anyway. The facts are rather obvious after all. But, once you start down that slope of argumentation, he’s won. He’s good at arguing. He’s been at it a long time.

Let’s, instead, learn from Jesus who was tempted by the devil in Matthew 4. It is there during that confrontation that we do not see him discussing things nor arguing with the adversary. He simply speaks the Word. We see Him standing firmly with the belt of truth buckled on tightly. His words are not His own, but rather, are the Word of God. We see the enemy use and misuse the Word, but Jesus does not correct Him nor debate Him. Rather, He unwaveringly quotes the unchanging Word of truth. And that is the ONLY WAY that the enemy is defeated. The Truth of the God’s Word.

In closing, like Roman soldiers, we as Christians are never to take off our belts, for it is the belt of truth and upon it all else holds together. Like David we are to stand on that TRUTH of what God has already done in our lives and the Bible. We are to buckle on the belt of truth and keep it on, for it is the mark of a Christian. When evil in the world looks gigantic, we’re to say, “Our God is Bigger!” When facts are used against us, may we like David say, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand…for the battle is the Lord’s!”

References:

Stefanie Hoss, “A Theoretical Approach to Roman Military Belts,” http://www.academia.edu/4849015/A_Theoretical_Approach_to_Roman_Military_Belts

Stefanie Hoss, “The Roman Military Belt,” http://www.academia.edu/212354/The_Roman_Military_Belt

Rick Renner, “The Most Essential Weapon In Your Spiritual Arsenal,” https://renner.org/the-most-essential-weapon-in-your-spiritual-arsenal/

We Are At War: The Renewing of the Mind

Tags

1 Corinthians 2, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Timothy 1:7, Christians and antidepressants, Dr. Candace Pert, Dr. Caroline Leaf, Dr. John Sarno, Ephesians 5:26, Ephesians 6, Full Armor of God, Renewing the Mind, Rick Renner, Romans 12:2, Sound Mind, The Helmet of Salvation, The Mind of Christ

Imagine…

Imagine with me for a second that you have no bad memories. It’s not that nothing bad ever happened to you, but you don’t remember anything bad. You don’t remember that someone hurt you, slighted you, or was unkind to you. You can’t recall that someone gossiped about you or was abusive emotionally, physically, sexually, or otherwise. Like a victim of amnesia, it’s not that something did not happen to you in the past, there’s just no memory of it and no emotion associated with it. Can you imagine that? Can you imagine not feeling the pain of a memory? Can you imagine that memory gone? Can you imagine the pain gone? The depression’s gone, the anger is gone, the frustration, the fear. Can you imagine what you’d be like without that pain? Without that memory? Just imagine…

I’ve been watching a lot of Hallmark Christmas movies (they’re like eating junk food–not a lot of substance, addictive and can make you sick–LOL) these days and a popular theme appears to be that of “amnesia.” It’s incredible to watch how a person had been controlling or confused before, BUT after hitting their head and losing their memory, they are now more relaxed and calm. BEFORE they were angry, now they are forgiving and kind. They WERE workaholic, now they have time for family and friends. They WERE successful and rich, now they don’t know it and don’t care about fortune or fame. It seems that in these fictional stories that with the loss of memory and the emotions associated with that priorities become more clear and what really matters stands out.

You see, our memories and their accompanying emotions are what make us who we are. Each memory has an emotion attached to it so that each time you remember that memory, that same emotion attached to that event is relived when you access that memory. In other words, you feel and relive that memory every time you think about it. So, if we lost those bad memories and therefore, those bad emotions too, we would be different….wouldn’t we? We wouldn’t snap anymore when someone questions us or freeze with fear when faced with a decision or get moody when someone in particular walks into a room or eat too much chocolate when depressed or nitpick when things aren’t the way we think they ought to be or hide in our room when worried.

Memories however, don’t just go away like that. They and their emotions linger and literally gain a stronghold in our minds. And the bad emotions attached to those bad memories have very physical manifestations in our bodies.

I haven’t just been watching lots of Hallmark Christmas movies, but have been reading books by neuroscientists and doctors of medicine concerning the mind/body connection. Scientific researchers have discovered that upwards to 87% of diseases are caused by our negative emotions and thoughts. Our emotions may be unseen, but they have a very real physical manifestation. This is because emotions cause the body to release very real chemicals and hormones into our bodies, and these can either change us physically for better or for worse. Because of this, pharmaceutical companies have come up with drugs to alter the brain by the creation of anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs.

Therefore, what we think and feel are hugely important!! Our thinking does not just stay in our heads. Our emotions do not simply stay put in our hearts. Our thinking and feeling affects our bodies in very real ways when not dealt with properly. This is not a theory. This is not a guess. This is a scientific fact.

This is why God says in Romans 12:2 that we are to, “…not [be] conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

We have been learning about the full armor of God. We have learned that we are in a very real spiritual war, and we have been given spiritual weapons to battle the enemy of our souls. We have learned that we’ve been given a helmet, the helmet of Salvation for the protection of our minds. By Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross those who believe on Him are instantly, spiritually “born again”. Thus we are immediately spiritually saved (at a set date in our past). Furthermore, by His resurrection we are offered future hope of bodily resurrection, thus our physical salvation. Thirdly, there is the daily salvation of our minds. We are saved spiritually, will be saved physically and are being saved mentally/emotionally.

Like amnesia patients act differently when memories are forgotten through a blow to the head, Christians are to be “transformed by the renewing” of the mind. To “renew” the mind means that it is to be made new again, to be renovated, “to renew qualitatively.”* As an old building is renovated, even so, our minds are to be renovated. A renovated building looks different than it first looked because it is restored to another form, and may function in another capacity. Like, an old firehouse when renovated no longer looks like the firehouse. Instead, it is turned into a coffee shop and art gallery. At one time the building was the old firehouse, but it is now renovated into a different form; instead of hoses and firetrucks there is now an espresso machine and paintings on the walls. The old building was not torn down and then another put in its place; it’s still the old building, but it is now made of a different quality and for a different purpose. This is the “renewing” spoken of here in Romans 12:2. We do not do this “renewing,” but rather, it is done to us by God.

When we are renewed in our minds by God, we are transformed.** The word in the Greek for transformed is metamorphoo, meaning, “to be transfigured, to change one’s form.” This happened to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew 17 and Mark 9 when He radiated and glowed with a supernatural, heavenly appearance of light. Even so, we are being radiantly “transfigured” and “changed in form” as our minds are “renewed in quality.”

God has given us the Spirit of a “sound” mind (2 Timothy1:7). To condense the meaning of this amazing “soundness of mind”, it means, “safe in mind.”*** But there’s more to it than that. This safety of the mind also has to do with “wholeness, preservation from danger, loss and destruction, and deliverance”. According to Rick Renner, “When the words sodzo and phroneo are compounded into one word, they form the word sophroneo, which pictures a mind that has been delivered, rescued, revived, salvaged, and protected and is now safe and secure. Thus, even if your mind is tempted to succumb to fear…you can allow God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to work in you to deliver, rescue, revive, and salvage your mind. This means your rationale, logic, and emotions can be shielded from the illogically absurd, ridiculous, unfounded, and crazy thoughts that have tried to grip your mind in the past. All you have to do is grab hold of God’s Word and His Spirit…Second Timothy 1:7 could be translated:

“God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love — He has given you a mind that has been delivered, rescued, revived, salvaged, protected, and brought into a place of safety and security so that it is no longer affected by illogical, unfounded, and absurd thoughts.”

You see, when your mind is guarded by the Word of God, you think differently. When the Word of God is allowed to work in your mind, it safeguards your emotions; it defends your mind from demonic assault; and it shields you from arrows the enemy may try to shoot in your direction in order to arouse a spirit of fear inside you.”

Over the last 20 years, antidepressant use has risen 400% in the United States according to phychcentral.com.**** The body of Christ is riddled with this sickness too. The body of Christ is on anti-depressants. The body of Christ is on anti-anxiety drugs. As Saint Augustine once said, “the Church is a hospital for sinners”.

But, the Church is not supposed to remain sickly conformed to the deformed, depressed, angry, worried, fearful image of the world, for we have been given the helmet of salvation and the Spirit of a “sound mind”. We have the helmet of wholeness, the helmet of a new beginning, the helmet of preservation from wrong thoughts, the helmet of safety and of security. It is the helmet of renewal, renovation, and right thinking. It is the helmet that shields us from destructive mindsets and poisonous emotions. It is a helmet that enables us to change our form and be transfigured from the earthly to the spiritual, from darkness to light.

No matter what memories we have, no matter what we’ve been through or are going through, God is still in the transforming and renewing ministry. The helmet is not so old that is is out-dated or obsolete, but rather, is still powerful enough to save and make us completely whole in our minds if we’ll allow Him to do so. He longs to “sanctify and cleanse” us “with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26), to change us into the image of Christ “from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). So, let’s not keep allowing for toxic emotions and memories to rule us when we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2). We just need to eagerly take hold of the helmet and put it on!

End Notes and Sources:

*The Complete Word Study Dictionary, pg. 151, anakainosis #342 from #341 anakainoo which is in turn from two words ana (#303) “again” and kainos “qualitatively new” (#2537),

pg. 804 kainos (#2537) meaning, “qualitatively new” as compared to neos (#3501) “temporarily new”, and pg. 1007 under the term neos (#3501) kainos is also described as “novel or strange”, “The kainon is the heteron (#2087), another of a different kind, the qualitatively new”.

**The Complete Word Study Dictionary, pg 968,# 3339, metamorphoo, “To transform, transfigure, change one’s form” from meta #3326 “a change of place or condition” and morphoo #3445 “to form”. Used in Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2 of Jesus’ transfiguration).

***Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Rick Renner http://www.renner.org/mind/what-does-it-mean-to-have-a-sound-mind/, and The Complete Word Study Dictionary, pg 1362-1363 and 1353 and 1454. Sophronos comes from two words, sozo (4982) “to save, deliver, make whole, safe from danger,” and phren (5424) which has to do with the diaphragm and breathing (the diaphragm determines one’s breaths and thus also has to do with the spirit and emotions) which was believed to have to do with the seat of mental and emotional activity and had to do with the ability to think and to control one’s thoughts and attitudes.

****https://psychcentral.com/news/2011/10/25/antidepressant-use-up-400-percent-in-us/30677.html

Other sources include:

Who Switched Off My Brain? by Dr. Caroline Leaf

Mind Over Back Pain, by Dr. John Sarno

Molecules of Emotion, by Dr. Candace Pert

Sparkling Gems from the Greek, the website of minister Rick Renner, http://www.renner.org/