Food For Thought Fridays

Ephesians 6: 12-17 says, "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

This is a very familiar passage. Unfortunately, many Believers don't practice the directive.

We take way too lightly our enemy and worse, our God. If we didn't, we would value His Word more.

If you look at the armor, it is not just the sword that deals with the Word.

The whole armor is based on the Word and the Word become flesh.

You learn truth through the Word.
You build righteousness through the Word.
You grow faith through the Word.
You understand the gospel through the Word.
You experience salvation through the Word.

Luther said, "Satan hates goose quills!"

I believe it because the Word has definitely done much damage to his kingdom.

But, if you don't know the Word, Satan will do much damage to you.

Stand.

Food For Thought Fridays

I read a statistic the other day that is pretty scary.

50% of Christian men read the word one time or LESS (A BIG FAT ZERO) during the week. These aren't just men who say they are Christians. These are men considered to be the pillars of the congregation.

That is a sad statement. No wonder the church is viewed as wishy washy.

We are a bunch of starving people. We are so malnourished we can't stand up to fight.

John Calvin once said we should reverence the scriptures as we revere God.

I understand what Calvin is saying, but I think we say the Bible is Holy and inspired by God, then put it on the top shelf and never open the Word.

We revere it, we just don't read it.

Thats why we sway with every windy fad and smooth talk that comes by.

2 Timothy 3: 16-17 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

If you want to be equipped, trained, repaired and taught; read the Word.

Shalom

Food For Thought Fridays

Psalms 1:1-2 says, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his DELIGHT is in the law of the Lord and on it he meditates day and night."

This has been my memory verse. One thing that strikes me in this passage is that the blessed man will go to the Word out of delight NOT just duty. How many times do we read the Word thinking, "I just have to get 1 chapter or ten minutes in"

Also, I believe that the less time you spend in the truth of the Word, the more likely you will find yourself in the counsel of the wicked, in the way of sinners, and in the seat of scoffers.

I encourage you to continue to passionately seek the Lord through His Word. If you are not passionate about His Word, ask God why.

But I do know, as we seek Him, we can live lives that show Him the glory He alone deserves.

Food For Thought Fridays

Are you anorexic or bulimic?

Spiritually that is.

Anorexia is a disease that causes people to refuse food in a desire to be beautiful and thin. Many Christians refuse the bread of life every day, yet expect God to do amazing things in their lives. How can it be?

Bulimia is a disease that causes people to binge on tons of food, then vomit to remove the impact of the food consumed. Many Christians binge on the buffet of God and can tell you everything about church, music, and His Word, but they don't apply any of it to their lives. They might as well vomit on the doorsteps of the church as soon as services are over. It is gross, but it is true.

I pray that you are neither and that you are like Ezra.

Ezra 7: 10 says, "For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel."

Ezra set his heart on the Word. He made a steadfast decision that he would not be anorexic.

Ezra set his heart to do the Word. He made a steadfast decision that he would not be bulimic.

Stay strong and be blessed.