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GTM – Finally…Be Strong In The LORD – By Lyall Johnston - 11/15/2024 Join us for an inspiring and profound sermon titled "Finally, Be Strong in the Lord," delivered by Lyall Johnston on November 15, 2024. In this powerful message, Lyall addresses the global community of God's saints, emphasizing the spiritual unity that binds us all together through God's Spirit and love, even as we are scattered around the world.
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GTM – Finally…Be Strong In The LORD – By Lyall Johnston - 11/15/2024 Join us for an inspiring and profound sermon titled "Finally, Be Strong in the Lord," delivered by Lyall Johnston on November 15, 2024. In this powerful message, Lyall addresses the global community of God's saints, emphasizing the spiritual unity that binds us all together through God's Spirit and love, even as we are scattered around the world.
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Paul is encouraging the brethren to be strong in the Lord and to put on the whole armor of God. He reminds them that their battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual powers of wickedness. He emphasizes the need for reliance on God's strength and power to overcome the enemy. It is a critical time in history, and they must be prepared to preach the gospel and stand firm in their faith. Greetings to everyone of God's Saints, as we are scattered around the world, but very close together. We're all joined together, as we know, by God's Spirit and by love. I chose for the title today, finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord. A scripture reference from the book Ephesians, which is quite an amazing book. As all the books of the Bible are, but Paul says to the brethren, finally. And perhaps we're on a final journey with the way that the world is functioning right now. We don't really know, but every generation of God's people down through the ages have expected the end time to come at their particular position or point in history. We know that we're in a very critical point in history, where everything is coming together. The whole of the prophecies, as we understand them, seem to be coming together to the time of the great conflagration of all the prophecies, which are going to end up with the church, particularly, and for the nations of modern Israel, as we can read about them in the book that we have, Ephraim and Manasseh, U.S. and Britain, which is all about their prophecy, going right back from when they came out of Egypt with the rest of the other tribes of Israel. But more than that, as they were taken into captivity, and as they moved through the geography of this world, up through northwestern Europe, two tribes in particular were pointed out, were the Ephraimites, who were the leading tribe in the northern ten tribes, and probably one of the most degenerate, and ones who were the leaders, really. Their kings and their leaders took the people into absolute paganism. And then, of course, there was the fleeing of the people who remained faithful to God, who then moved across the Atlantic to America. And today we know that that land is the land of Manasseh. And modern-day Manasseh, just like Ephraim, today, are located in the British Isles, and also in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. And I would recommend, if you have not read recently, I would recommend that you reread our book on America and Britain, about the prophecies and where we are today, because only in understanding that can we really understand what's taking place in the world today. And, of course, history today that's being made is focused particularly in the United States. And that's something, of course, that's being brought to our focus very, very dramatically at this point in time. So, let's just turn to that scripture in Ephesians, Ephesians, the sixth chapter, and let's read some verses, and then we'll turn to some other scriptures. So, Ephesians, the sixth chapter. And, whether we like it or not, this is impacting on each one of us, what's happening today. And, hopefully, we are seeing a little bit of breath being given back into the United States, where, again, the gospel can go out with great power. Hopefully, if there's enough effort from the British people to turn around and repent, beginning with all the leaders and the judges and the rulers, God may even send a message out from there again. Where it once went was a printed word. But today, Ephraim is a lost cause. As the prophet says, Ephraim is like a half-baked cake. A half-baked cake is worthless. It's not of any use. So, unless something changes dramatically, unless there's repentance and a turning back to God, and recognizing that Jesus Christ was the Lord God of the Old Testament, we know that they're going into captivity. And, as we know, even in London, London is no longer British. Okay, let's get the scripture out in Ephesians, the sixth chapter. Ephesians 6 and verse 10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the might of his strength. So, here is Paul addressing Ephesians. And, of course, we know that the churches in the areas that Paul was working, in fact, in most of the churches in these days, were struggling against false doctrines, false teachers, and a lot of Gnosticism. And so, it was a real battle. And this was having an effect on the church, and people were being drawn away. People were leaving the church. And so, Paul was encouraging the brethren, many of whom I'm sure he had met and knew personally. And, of course, he and the other apostles were greatly concerned, and they give us a lot of instruction, a lot of messages to encourage the brethren to stand on the truth that he had brought them, and the other apostles had brought them directly from the teachings of Jesus Christ. And we know that Paul had the same teaching that the other apostles did for three and a half years after God called him, struck him down and called him, and showed him the things that he was going to have to suffer for Christ's sake, and for the sake of the gospel. And that is exactly our calling also, brethren. We have been called to substantiate the word of God, and the truth of God, and we are going to be able to enter into the kingdom of God as part of the ruling government of God, if we are able to stand before God in faith and in strength. So again, finally, so in other words, this is the last chapter in Ephesians, and this is the last message he wanted to leave with them. And as we know, often times it's the last message that has an impact. He wants to leave this impression with them. Just like us, who we know we're living in the end times, this is a very powerful, very strong message for us, where he says again, to read it again, Finally, my brethren, be strong. That means to be absolutely strong in the power and the strength that God has given to us as the Creator. It's that creative power that God created the universe that he's offering to us to the level and the degree that we need to stand strong in the Lord. We note that. So our standing strong is not within ourselves, because we belong to Christ. We've given our lives over to him totally in baptism. The old man died, and we're attempting day by day, and trying, in fact, succeeding a lot of the time in just keeping that old man buried under the waters of baptism. And now we're living and walking in the faith that God has given to us. We're walking in the strength, all the strength, the mighty strength we need. And the Greek word, dynamos, is like dynamo, which is a very powerful explosive. God has given us all that power, mighty power. We just need to rely on it, and call on it, and God will provide it. To do, as Paul says, to be strong in the Lord. Not aside from, not apart from, but in the Lord. That's where our strength comes from. And in the might. So here we have strength and might. And what's that might of? The might of his strength. As Paul says in another place, as Jesus said, Jesus said, of my own self I can do nothing. But I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me. And that's where our faith, and that's where our trust must lie. Put on the whole armor of God. And we'll have a look at that just a little later. So he's telling us why we need to do it. Why do we need to put on the whole armor? And then he shows us how to do it. Because we are not wrestling against flesh and blood. Okay, we may have tussles with other human beings. But they are not the real enemy. But against principalities who are working in and through these people. Whereas for you and for me, it's the Spirit of God. And all his strength and power and might that's working through us. So we are more than well equipped to handle Satan the devil. But we do need to know the tools that God wants us to use. And Paul gives them to us. And not just here in Ephesians, but other places. The fruit of the Spirit is another place. And Peter then talks about the things that we can add to our faith in his epistles. So there are many, many ways that God has given to us to understand what he wants each one of us to do. And this is our daily walk. And that's important. So again, verse 12. Because we're not wrestling against flesh and blood. But against principalities and against powers and against the world. Or the world rulers of darkness. And that's what we have in the world today. I believe we understand from what's taken place with the results of the elections. That the darkness is now being sublimated somewhat. And we're seeing some light. We're seeing some hope. We're seeing some hope that maybe there will be an opportunity to preach the gospel in power to all nations as a witness to those nations. Then the end shall come. So it's a critical time. And as we said, it's a time that we need to be ready to accomplish this. The rulers of the darkness of this age and as it's true at every age because Satan has not gone away. He's still hanging around. He's still trying to push those buttons that we have, our weaknesses, to stir us up so we can resurrect that old man out of the watery grave of our baptism. But we have that power again, remember, to resist him. As Jesus did. And he will depart from us. Or he'll come back. But that's the plan and purpose God has for us. Because in Satan testing us, what is God doing by giving us the strength, his power, his might to overcome Satan? Are we not building the character and mind of Jesus Christ? Are we not letting the mind of Christ dwell within us and to be within us? Are we not, as we read the scriptures, allowing the mind of Christ, the words of Christ, to dwell within us richly? So we've got that power of all these words which is totally united with the Holy Spirit to fight anything that Satan is going to throw at us. So again, against the spiritual powers of wickedness in high places, controlling so many of this world's leaders, the kings, the rulers, the judges, the religious leaders, he's in control. God in his mercy has reached down and called you and me because we're not the high and the mighty of this world. Because we are able to humble ourselves before God. And God is able to open the scriptures for us like little children and teach us his way of life. And he teaches us to crawl. And then we are able to stand on our feet and walk. And then eventually we learn to run. And in that stage we begin to grow in the grace and knowledge of God. The ability is there to grow at a much more rapid pace. But the one thing, let's keep in mind that God is building within us and wanting us to understand that he is bringing us to perfection. And what does the scripture say? Be perfect as I am perfect. That's God's goal for you, for me, for all the saints, and for all those God is yet to call. And we need to be praying in preparation for this just as a sidebar. We need to be praying that God will provide the fruit that is needed. And the laborers for the harvest, as Jesus said, pray for the laborers of the harvest. Because the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. And as we know, as is said, that a number of us are getting older. We may not be around too long. And so this is a challenge to all those younger men, younger women, that God is calling to become more and more effective as the leaders. Understanding the word of God, reading the word of God. And as we read it, allowing God to give it into our minds, and give it into our hearts, and to inscribe it. I love that word, I haven't checked the Greek word, but inscribe it in our minds. Like God with his finger, writing it in our minds, in our memories, and inscribing it in the fleshly habits of our hearts. So when Satan comes along pointing the finger at us, when Satan comes along trying to tear us down, he doesn't have a leg to stand on, does he? Because, as Jesus, when he was challenged, Matthew the fourth chapter, Luke the fourth chapter, we know so well what Jesus said. But these are powerful words, and these are the words that we use. And what did Jesus say? Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word, every word that comes from God, that proceeds out of the mouth of God. That is a mighty tool, that's one of the weapons God has given, and it's a powerful weapon. As Paul says in Hebrews, the fourth chapter, verse 12, the word of God is like a two edged sword. And we can use that word, and that's what Jesus was doing, he was using the word of God against Satan, and Satan had to go. No option, he had to go. But Jesus wasn't about to turn around and worship Satan the devil, which is what he wanted him to do. And he wants you, and he wants me to worship him. That's why he comes around. If he can even get hold of one of the saints, and with his tail sweep us away from the church of the living God, from the body of Christ, he'll do it. So that's why we need the full armor of God. That's why we need to stand, as Paul says, and let's just read that again. In Ephesians the sixth chapter, finally, in other words, here's a key to success. Be strong in the Lord. Don't trust in the flesh. Now as Jesus said, John 6, 63, the flesh profits nothing. And God's wanting us to make the decision to separate ourselves from walking in the flesh. And it's good, perhaps if you do a study, we all do a study on the word of the flesh. And what it means to be walking in the flesh, to living in the flesh, apart from living and walking in the spirit of God. God has given us, in fact, God is so generous. He just overwhelms us with more than we can actually take in at any one time. The steps that we can take, the words that he gives to us, the power of his spirit that he gives to us to overcome any obstacle, even martyrdom. And we may have time to cover that a little later. Let's turn right now to 1 Peter. And let's read a little bit in 1 Peter, the fourth chapter. And this is part of our standing and being strong in the Lord because Jesus Christ suffered. And was he strong in the Father? Absolutely he was. Verse 1, 1 Peter 4. Consequently, since Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, incredible, amazing what God the Father and Christ have done for us. Arm yourselves also with the same mind. Let this mind be in you. As Paul quotes in Ephesians, the second chapter. Because the one who has suffered in the flesh, and this is in resisting sin, and it can, particularly with Christ. Did he suffer martyrdom? Yes he did. The one who has suffered in the flesh has finished living in sin as a continuous way of life. So yes, we know that we still sin. In thought maybe, we're tempted with the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the presumptuous pride of the physical life. But we can resist it. We've got the power. And we're, as infants, growing to maturity as we resist those temptations. Occasionally, yes, we're going to slip, we're going to fall. Through weakness. What do we do? We get back on our knees, we confess our sins. And every day, as we confess our sins before Christ, and also we forgive those that sin against us, the Father forgives us through that precious blood of Jesus Christ. And every day he gives us a clean slate. Perfect. So every day is and can be, when we repent, first thing in the morning, we have that fresh slate, we have a fresh beginning. So every day can be the first day of the rest of our lives. Difficulties, problems, failures, yes, of course. But today we can look forward to success. And relying on the Word of God, on the power of God's Spirit, we have success. Little increments. When we're just crawling, we can't just suddenly get up and run. We've got to grow. We've got to become perfect. We're to become a perfect. And that takes a lifetime, or as many years as God gives to each one of us. And he knows what is necessary for each one of us to be there with him and with Christ when Christ returns and resurrects us, whether we remain living or whether we're raised from the dust of the ground. God has everything in control, and he's focusing his control, the power that he had to create the entirety of the universe, which is absolutely incredible. In one place where Paul talks about the power of the creation power, God directs towards us. Now, we can't use it all, but what he's saying here is that, look, there is more than sufficient power. We just have to claim it. We just have to learn how to claim it and learn how to apply it and learn how to use it. It's a mighty, mighty power, and we can be strong in the Lord. So let's get back to 1 Peter. Consequently, since Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, because the one who has suffered in the flesh, resisting Satan, resisting the sin that dwells within, resisting the sins that the world puts before us every moment of every day, if we have suffered in the flesh, has finished living in sin. So, yes, we've made that commitment. We've finished living with sin, and that's a daily battle. Galatians 5, 17. The flesh is constantly battling against the spirit, and that will continue as long as we are in the flesh. Now, some people have difficulty seeing that, but if you recognize that and recognize it every day, we're at warfare. We are at warfare against Satan and his demons, and he's wanting with his tail again to sweep away. Brethren from the church, we must resist him so he is not able to do that. To this end, verse 2, that he no longer lives his remaining time in the flesh to the lust of the flesh, but to the will of God. And that's our daily choice, living to the will of God with his help, with his strength, with his word, and with his spirit. For in times past, or past times of our lives, it's sufficient to have worked out the will of the Gentiles, when we ourselves walked in licentiousness and lusts, and were debauched with wine, carousing, drinking, and wanton idolatries. In seeing this difference in your behavior, the people around you, your family perhaps, your friends, your neighbors, the people you've worked with, the people you know, they are astonished that you do not rush with them into the same overflowing debauchery, and they revile you. There is what we're talking about with the suffering for the sake of the gospel and the sake of Christ. Now it's interesting that God is delivering us from Satan. Is God able to deliver us from the problems and troubles of this world? And we're living at this time also, let's drop down to verse 16. Yet if anyone is suffering as a Christian, are you suffering as a Christian? He or she should not be ashamed, just like Christ was not ashamed with all the rubbish, with all the lies, with all the persecutions that were thrown at him. He didn't even regard it. To him it was as nothing. He should not be ashamed, but let him glorify God because of this. Because if you're being persecuted and suffering for God's sake, God sees it. And you're building up your reward in heaven above. And this is going to become more and more of a situation for us. Many people, many nations are already suffering as people who are claiming the name of Jesus. They're suffering because of that. They're being martyred. They're being put to death. Will they be in the first resurrection? We don't know. Scripture would say that they'll be in the second resurrection, but whichever case, they're going to be in great favor with God for having died, having become martyrs, just hanging on to the name of Christ. That's all they had, the name of Christ. They had the Scriptures, they didn't have the Sabbath, perhaps the Holy Days and all the other doctrines that God has abundantly given to us, but they have not denied the name of Christ. And that is a major key to their future and the blessing that they're going to receive because of that. All right. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. That's us. We're under judgment day by day. But God's judgment on us is that He has given us all His power, He's given us His Word and His Spirit to obey His laws, His commandments, to walk in the paths of His righteousness, His grace and His love. And by doing that, what's going to happen? God's judgment to us, is it going to be favorable or unfavorable? For your suffering, God's judgment on you is what? Is there a penalty for your obedience to God? No. There are blessings, abundant blessings, not only now, in the enrichment that you receive by the abundance of God's Spirit, and by Him opening up His Word to you and just giving you that blessing of peace of mind. Because you are His servant, you know you are His servant, you know He hears your prayers, you know He's opening up the Scriptures to you, you know He's using you as His ambassador, His agent, His servant in this world, because every day you live as a brother or a sister or a member of the body of Christ, you are showing forth the mighty power of God to change you from what you were, changing you into what you are becoming and what you will be. A son and daughter of the great God of the universe, to whom He is going to give power to rule over the nations. And you can read that in Psalm, I believe it's 148, 149. That's the reward that we have. Is that worth fighting for? Is that worth overcoming the sin that dwells within day by day by day? Absolutely yes. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God, and if it first begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of Christ? Verse 18, is this important? And if the righteous are saved with much difficulty, is our walk of life difficult? Yes it is, because of the sin that dwells within. We're battling that every day, the sin that's being thrown at us from the world, and Satan pushing those buttons, our emotions, our feelings, to try and stimulate and bring back those old feelings of sin. Everything that we have done in the past, all the feelings and emotions are stored up in our cellular system. And all Satan has to do is push those buttons. And all the recordings of all the sins of the past, he can bring them back to the front of our mind in a moment. We are to resist. We are to be strong, to stand strong in the power of God and his word, and in the very many things he's given us that we can do to block Satan. Now, is God able to deliver us as Job? Here was Job, the correction. A lot, a lot living in the city of Sodom and the twin city of Gomorrah. Was God able to deliver him from Sodom? Are we living in Sodom and Gomorrah today? Absolutely. Did the angels have difficulty in drawing Lot and his two daughters out of Sodom? Yes, he did. So, from that example we can see, even if we struggle very, very, with much difficulty, just remember, God has his angels. And we have that example in the case of Lot, where they were able to draw him out. So, don't resist the word of God. Don't resist the leadership that he will give you. Now, we may not see the angelic beings that are there to deliver us, but what happened to Lot's family that refused his words and thought he was just a silly old man? They perished in the flames. And, again, a sidebar, my thoughts about why Lot struggled is because his family wouldn't, did not want to come out. He wanted to stay there to try and convince them to come out. The same with his wife. She just simply didn't have the faith. She didn't believe the angels, and we know what happened to her. But she was probably looking back into the world, or maybe, I can go back and save my children. No. God had sent those angels to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Those cities. God was able to deliver Lot. Is he able to deliver us? As it says there in Peter, that God, or let's just go back there, 1 Peter 4, verse 17. If the righteous are saved, you have much difficulty. Now, the difficulty is that struggle, but it's not an impossibility. But it's a challenge. It's another factor in our building of the character. Today, we are qualifying to become kings and priests under Christ and God the Father. All those that come later are not being offered this. This is why it's so hard. This is why we have to battle all the elements of this world. All the teachings, all the falsehoods, all the lies, and so forth. Because God is building with us the character as sons and daughters that is absolutely incredible and beyond our imagination of what the future holds for us. But this is what is important. So, yes, God is able to do this. Let me add another sidebar. In the past, I used to talk about prayer. And sometimes when you're praying, you feel like there's a barrier or a dome over your head. You just feel like you're not breaking through in prayer. You're just not making that contact with God. And I guess I was thinking of today with our rocket science and what it takes for a rocket to leave the Earth's atmosphere, to break through the forces of gravity that want to hold us down. Prayer, in one sense, is like this. Sometimes, not every time, but there are times when we just feel that the forces of spiritual gravity are holding our prayers down and we're not breaking through to God's throne. And I just thought of the phrase, prayer rockets. What is a prayer rocket as I would describe it? A prayer rocket is when we're struggling with that. We get on our knees, and if you need to, you begin to put some energy and physical energy and strength and mental concentration into the prayer. And in one sense, it's like getting ready for a big fight. You're clenching your fists, you're gritting your teeth, and you're forcing yourself into a prayer rocket that's going to break right up through and break through whatever barrier Satan is putting there to resist your prayers. And you do that, I think it takes 12 minutes for a rocket at the speed it needs to go in order to break through the Earth's atmosphere and go into free flight. Now, once in prayer, once you've broken through that barrier, you enter into free flight, and you're able to pray. The words will just flow from your mouth and from your mind and from your heart before God's throne, and you will be filled with such joy, such wonder, such grace from God. So it's a prayer rocket. I don't know how long, but usually if you do that, it doesn't take that long to break through Satan trying to hold you down, deception. We're really in contact with God all the time through Christ, but it's just that sometimes mentally he's putting that, almost trying to put a mental block on us. Don't accept it. Whatever strength, whatever, and cry out to God, say, Father, help me to get through that barrier through the body of Christ right into your throne room. Father, help me, and you'll get there. And I'm probably talking to the converted, and you know this, but for those who have not tried that, who have experienced, this is the way. And remember, the power and the strength that's behind that, where's it coming from? The Creator, the Creator who has all power in Heaven and Earth. It's such a wonderful privilege that God has given to us as his children. And we need it more in this age probably than they may need it in the future because they're not going to have the same enemies to face. Satan's gone. The world entirely changed. And we have Jesus Christ sitting there on the throne, however that is going to be, in Zion, in the city of Jerusalem, the capital of the world. And those days are coming very quickly. All right, where do we go next? Let's get back to so many places we could turn to. Let's go back to Ephesians, the sixth chapter. And there's one particular piece of armament that I want to concentrate on, but let's have a look at all of them just briefly. There at last, Ephesians, the sixth chapter, verse 13. We know what we're fighting against. We know God wants us to be able to stand. Stand in his presence firmly in the truth of God, in the word of God, in obedience to his word, desiring to know more and more of who the Father is and who Jesus Christ is. As Jesus said, to know the Father and to know the Christ, this is eternal life. John 17 and verse 3, to know the Father and to know the Son. Do you think or do we think we know them sufficiently at this point in time? No. Otherwise we could sit back on our... we could just take it easy and say, well, we've got it made. No. This is about building character. This is about becoming perfect. This is about walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. So therefore, verse 13, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to resist the evil day. So let's just quickly mention what the armor is, and we have seven pieces of armor here. In fact, six, but there's a seventh which perhaps is not always looked upon as part of our armor, but it's a very essential part in the armor we wear. One, truth. Two, righteousness. Three, peace. We'll come back to peace. Four, faith. Five, salvation. Six, the Word of God. And finally, prayer. Now, prayer is the one tool that God has given to us that helps all of the armor He's given to us to adhere to our body. It helps to, in one sense, to glue it to our bodies, so it remains there. And every piece of armor is covered by the other piece of armor. There's not one crack. There's not one hole in our armor that Satan can get through. If we've got our armor suitably, correctly fitted, then we have full protection. So we're going to be needing this more and more as the days proceed. So let's go through these and just read each one of them. And remember why we're doing it? Because we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, although it may appear sometimes because that's who we see face to face. So let's also pray and ask God for His wisdom, His knowledge, His understanding, but also discernment of spirits so we know what spirit other people are of, not to condemn or judge them, but to know what we're dealing with, that we're not really dealing with the flesh and blood, so we don't get angry with them. We don't condemn them. We condemn the spirit, the demon, or Satan, that's behind them, working through them. We are to pray for them, even if they despitefully use us. Didn't Jesus tell us that that's what we're to do with our enemies? To pray for them? Yes. And to do good to them even. And I've seen that happen with one friend in the past where one man was treating him so terribly. You went and bought him a gift. And the man said, well, how can I be horrible to you now? So it worked. I don't know if that would work for everyone, but it worked for this man. Sadly, he left the church. It's interesting. Therefore take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to resist in the evil day. Are we in the evil day? Yes. Is the evil day increasing? Yes. Every day is an evil day. There will be a culmination. Finally, there will be that evil day. But if we see it as a period of time, then we can realize this is a daily work. And having worked out all things, what are we to do? To stand. To stand. In the faith, in the grace, all with the armor of God protecting us. And this is the armor God has given us. This is God-given armor. Stand therefore, verse 14, having your loins good about with truth. What is truth? David said, your word is truth. God's word is also righteous because it says, goes on the breastplate of righteousness. So truth is everything that has to do with our minds and our hearts. That we want the truth of God written and inscribed, given into our hearts and to our minds. The breastplate of righteousness, that protects our heart. The righteousness of God protects our heart. Making sure that our heart is pure in its emotions and feelings in tune with the word of God. And having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. But again, footwear. Roman soldier needed his footwear because he was going to be marching over rough terrain. Sharp rocks perhaps. And he was going to march quickly and rapidly over long distances. And it was that very factor, one of the factors, that made it possible for the Roman armies to subdue those whom they considered their enemies. Took them by surprise. So we need to have our feet well shod. And as it says, with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Now beside all of these take up the shield of faith. Faith is the absolute trust and belief that what God says is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And that's contained in the words from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. God given instruction manual for how we today and at all times man is to live the way God wanted man to live. So let's repeat verse 16. Beside all these take up the shield of faith with which you have the power to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. That shield held out there. Now the Romans had two shields and even David mentioned a shield and a buckler. Now the shield was the big shield for the Roman soldiers that protected their whole body and of course they could plant it on the ground and when all the arrows were fired at them whether they were fiery or not, they would hit the shields. But also the buckler that David talked about and he probably used both of these. We don't read too much about his armor and so forth except they rejected the armor that was given to him to fight Goliath. But the buckler was just a little shield that was for infighting. And we need that for the infighting when we're fighting our enemy at close range because Satan will attack us both from a distance and both at close range. So we're to be ready for both attacks. And put on the helmet of salvation and the helmet of salvation will do what? It protects our minds. It guards our minds and it guards the thoughts that comes into our minds. So the helmet of salvation is very important. The mind is very important because there is that center where we make our decisions to obey or disobey. Or when we are equivocating, when we're being tempted, we need to be able to make that choice to do the right thing according to the Word of God. And all that takes place in the mind. And we block all that Satan throws at us in the mind so it doesn't get into our heart. It doesn't sink to that deep level. We do what Christ did. We resist it. It is written. It is written. This is the sword of God. This is how we use the sword. It is written. You shall not. You shall not. You shall. You shall. What a powerful weapon that is. Then 18. Praying at all times with all prayers and supplications in the Spirit and in this very thing watchful with all persecution and supplication for all the saints. Now that there, verse 18, is referring back to in this very thing putting on the whole armor of God because we're battling against wicked spirits in high places. So that's why the prayer becomes very important. Praying at all times, again verse 18, with all prayer and watchfulness and all perseverance. Again, that gritting your teeth, clenching your fist, resistance in mind, in heart, in spirit, and in word against wicked spirits in high places that will come to us through other human beings. We're not going to judge them for that. They're being used. They have no idea of what they're doing. Praying for supplication in the Spirit and in this very thing being watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. So we're to be praying for one another. That God will put his fence, his shield around his body so that Satan will not be able to, as it says in Revelation 12 and we could read that whole chapter because there's much there about this also where he swept a third of the angels away. We saw it already how he did that in the Worldwide Church of God. How he swept multitudes away from following the truth of God. Leaving a remnant, leaving a faithful remnant and leaving a remnant that is still struggling, trying to overcome and still not being able to see the full truth of God. So we're to be praying for them also because they are laborers for God's harvest. So we should have a concern for them. And notice this, and he said, And for me that boldness of speech may be given to me so that I may open my mouth to make known the mystery of the gospel. We're to be praying for that today. For those that God is using, those who God has called specially for this to do the work of evangelizing, to do the work of preaching the gospel of the kingdom the coming kingdom of God to all nations. We're to be praying for this. And then praying, of course, as we mentioned earlier, for the laborers for the harvest so that there will be that backup in the body to take care of all these people coming out of the terrible situations they are in this world. Yeah, such a thing. But what a challenge, what an opportunity you and I have that God has called us to. Not because of who we were, but because of who God is, who Jesus Christ is, and what the plan of God is. And for me that boldness of speech may be given to me so that I may open my mouth to make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. God has those whom he has used, who will use. We don't know who these are, but we should be praying that God will provide those to bring that message, to preach that message. Yes, we know in the future that, well, we have this prophecy of the Elijah to come that's going to return the hearts of the children to the fathers, and so forth. We have the angelic witness that's going to be preaching also the gospel. We also know there are going to be the two witnesses. But in our day and our time, we've got space of time here, is God, has God opened a door for us? I think we have to say yes. I think we have to take the challenge. In fact, I know we have to challenge. I believe we have to take the challenge. And I'm sure you do, too, to be praying. And, of course, here we are where God's called us into this group, CBCG. That's where he puts you. God places us in the body where he wants us. And that's why you're in CBCG, because this is where God wanted you. Or if you're not as yet, if God is calling you, this is the place God is calling you. Don't waste your time looking around at all the other churches, because if God's calling you here, this is where you need to be. There are those who will jump from one church of God to another. Are they going to be able to grow when they're listening to all these different tunes? No. When God places us in the body where he wants us, that's where we should stay. Now, leave if you want to. Is God with you? Or are you going to leave him behind if he's put you in a certain place? And we can't make judgment on the other churches of God, although we know that not all churches of God understand the full truth of God. And we hope and pray that, yes, that God will reveal those things to him. Do we have all truth in the CBCG? We have as much truth as God has given to us. And so long as each one of us are submissive to the Spirit of God, submissive to the Word of God, and obeying the Word of God as God gives it to us, then God will lead us and guide us into the truth that we don't have. And there are things, there are doctrines, there are teachings that we don't understand yet, because it's not the time. Or it is the time, and maybe we're just not putting out the effort to get there. So we need to make sure that each one of us, as a part of the body, whether you're a finger or a toe, or whatever, you are a part of the body. You are a necessary part of the work of the living God in this fellowship that God has called you into. And so this is where we can concentrate our efforts. And we know that we have a level of truth that God has given to us. And that is an amazing gift that we have. So again, who are God's ambassadors today? We don't know all of them. Is there one? Are there more? Well, let's put it this way. We know that the church, the faithful, true church of God, is the church that is to be preaching the Word of God. We're not to be listening to any man or any individual but the truth of God. Because anyone who is preaching the truth of God as an agent, as a servant, as evangelizing from the Scriptures as the apostles did, then it is the church that is the tool, that is the weapon, that is the force, that is the strength that God will use. And that church, when it's closely knit together, when we're all working together, each one providing what God has given to us, then God has got a powerful weapon in His church, in His hands, to take the warning message to all nations as a witness. God called you. God called me as a part of that. You have your part to play. I have my part to play. In a way, it's responsible to be walking in the footsteps of Christ. Let's go back to that one piece of armor that God has given to us. Perhaps we might consider it the least necessary worthy piece of armor, but let's see what the Scriptures have to say about it. Once we find it, verse 15, Having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Now, you may want to just check. There are a couple of other Scriptures, I think, Philippians and Colossians, that I wrote that down somewhere where I checked it out, where the gospel of peace is mentioned. But the gospel overall, we know what the full gospel is. It's the gospel of the coming kingdom of God. And part of that gospel is the gospel of peace. Now, if we have the gospel, what is that? The gospel is that I am a sinner. God has called me. God has shown me my sins. And I was cut to the heart because of my sins, as they were on the day that Peter preached his gospel. And that was very interesting. And then I knew that I needed to be baptized for my sins to be forgiven. And so from there, what do we have? Well, God gave us his Holy Spirit. So there's the gospel of peace. Now, what does that do? Did that, for us, make peace between us and God? Yes, it did. The gospel of peace. Now, what has the gospel of peace got to do with our feet being shed, or shod, with the gospel of peace? Well, what it means, perhaps in short, is that we will have peace in our hearts, in our minds, every day. Day by day. Even when we are faced with the most terrible situations. Even when we face martyrdom. Will that be comfortable? No. Will that be easy? No. But we will, if we are walking in the way of Jesus Christ, with our feet shod with the peace of God, let them do to us what they will, but we will still have peace. Just like those martyrs, who when they faced with death, although one martyr in particular, he looked up, and the heavens opened, and he saw Jesus Christ. He died as a martyr, being stoned to death, with rocks, with peace of God in his hearts. Question. Do you, do I, have that kind of peace? Are our feet shod with the gospel of peace? So no matter how we walk, as we obey God, as we walk in His footsteps, the footsteps of Jesus Christ, we face all manner of troubles and struggles and trials, all manner of evil things. Are we able to stand, with our feet shod with peace, the peace of God dwelling within our hearts? Are we able to walk that very narrow path, which many times is rugged, it's hard, it's difficult, that if we've got our feet shod, our feet are protected, which means the whole body is protected with the rest of the armor of God. So perhaps we could consider more, just think about having our feet shod with the peace of the gospel, the peace of God, which surpasses, not only passes all understanding, but it surpasses all understanding. So, again, let's go back to the title. Finally, my brethren, let us stand strong in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and in our Father. And if we walk strong, God is going to accomplish a great deal through each one of us individually and collectively. So God be with you for the rest of the Sabbath and we look forward to the comments and questions.
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