Christian Support Group :) discussion

I am finding myself arguing with non-believers here. I don't mind really, but I wonder if anyone would like to go through the armor of God, as presented in Ephesians 6? It is so important to a believers faith to know how God has created us and saves us and keeps us. Who wants their faith squashed by worldly wisdom or lies? Who wants to know how to hold their own in standing up for their faith? This little primer would strengthen believers in God's Word and give confidence to them that what they believe is exactly what God wants. There will be little memory work, but just a brief understanding of how God has saved us by faith in Christ and protects us. Put in your thoughts and I will decide to teach through the articles of Armor. Of course, If you don't believe in the Bible being God's Word, then this would be a vain topic and of no interest to you, so don't come here and argue. Thank you.

In Ephesians 6, Paul is wrapping up his exhortation to the believers in Ephesus (and elsewhere since this was a cyclical letter to many churches in the area). Paul usually hit the theology in the first half of his letters and the practical in the last half.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power."

As the believers were reminded, the strength was not theirs--they were mere followers of Christ, not supermen. Their strength was in Christ and staying in Him. He kept them, he sheltered them, he justified them. I liken this aspect of my strength in the Lord to a motorcycle on the freeway. As I ride my motorcycle, the wind buffets me, the rain pelts me, the bugs hurt and distract. After 10 hours of this, I am exhausted and want to give up. I found that pulling up behind a semi-trailer afforded me protection from all the elements. I was invincible as I found myself shielded by the truck. It took the beating for me. If I decided at any time to pull out, the buffeting began again. It was not I that was strong, but I obeyed and stayed behind the strength of the truck and was protected.
This is what Paul is saying by telling us to 'be strong in the Lord'. He has overcome the world and as we follow Him, we also overcome the world.
Pretty neat, huh? We are as strong as Christ as long as we submit to Him and find our strength 'in Him'. More later. We will do this one little section at a time. Blessings.

I like this idea and your thoughts. The analogy with the truck was a perfect example!

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."

Paul has seen in his own life as an evangelist, sharing the Good News of Christ in this world, that many don't want to hear it. He was in danger of losing his hearers souls and having his own soul discouraged. He was just human and frail, though battle worn and rough. He likened his opposition to being in a battle, a real war. As we know he was shouted down, rioted against, plotted against, dropped from a basket over a wall, shipwrecked three times, stoned to death and raised and he continued to preach the Good News. Most would have given up.
Paul understood that he had not just a faceless opposition (that hated holiness) against him (the world and his own flesh), but a personal accuser (Satan) known as the Devil. The Devil has one purpose: to exalt himself above God in this world. It's hard to do when God and His people refuse to remain silent and share God's News of the Savior. Paul admonishes God's children to know that the Devil actually 'schemes' to silence them. They will be silenced if they trust in their own wisdom and their own power. The Devil has been at this battle game for quite a while, now. Anyone who goes up against the Devil, toe to toe, will be beaten. Even Jesus quoted Scripture and relied on His Fathers' purpose for him here rather than say "It's on between you and me, Devil." He was able to 'stand against the Devil's schemes' to destroy his opposition as He trusted his father's will for him and Scripture (God's revealed word).
Jesus stood the tests not because he is God, but because he trusted in God his father and God's Word. So, we must understand that being ignorant as God's child will bring about a life of believing the Devil's lies: "I cannot be sure about anything so I had best be quiet and compromise with everyone's beliefs". God's purpose for His child is one of knowing who Jesus really is, who we are and what GOD'S PURPOSE is for us in this world. Blessings.

Pansy wrote: "I like this idea and your thoughts. The analogy with the truck was a perfect example!"

Thanks. This is one of the biggest revelations for me from God. The 'New Creation' is the other. God sure has incredible plans for his children here.

@Douglas: Have you ever read the book Alive for the First Time: A Fresh Look at the New-Birth Miracle? I really liked this one.

Pansy wrote: "@Douglas: Have you ever read the book Alive for the First Time: A Fresh Look at the New-Birth Miracle? I really liked this one."

Pansy, I haven't really read this book yet. It does sound like a good one, for sure. Thanks.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and agsinst the spiritual forces in the heavenly realms."

Paul is affirming the real honest battle in the spiritual realms around us in this world we live in. The world is not neutral to God or his children--it is dark and actively attacks God, holiness (however it is presented) and God's children. God can't lose. His holiness won't wane. His children can be taken captive by lies, but 'greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world'. Thus lies the great mystery: how can God's children be fruitless in this world and taken captive seeing the power they possess? Scripture says God's children will be fruitful, some 30, 60 and 100 fold fruitful, but this doesn't mean they can't be captive for a time.
How is it that God finally takes His children victoriously into battle and they are able to stand and not become apathetic and enslaved to the ways of this world? Thankfulness, I believe. After being an unfruitful child of God for several years, God opened my eyes and caused me to be thankful for saving me. Was I saved before I was thankful? Yes. But I was enslaved to the darkness and ignorant of who God was in 'the now'.
Once I was seeing life from more His perspective, I was thankful, joyful and worshipping daily because it was normal 'in Christ'. The spiritual war around me was recognized for what it was. Before I realized I was in a battle, I was captive to my ignorance and apathy and sin as a Christian. I never needed the armor before I saw the battle, but suddenly, I needed my Lord and savior for everything in life. I need my bread daily. I am greatful. I don't want to be captive again, but a joyful, worshipping child and warrior here.
According to Paul, the armor is for protection in battle. Whether we want to be in the battle or not matters little--we are. We are battling or we are captive, period. Do you battle with the thoughts that war against your soul or are you unconcerned with life in Christ, just wanting to live for yourself? Vistory is what Christ saved us for. Joyfulness can only be found in being conformed to His image, the life he has predestined us for.
Think of all the walks with God that are possible for us and the joy we sacrifice living for ourselves. Think of all the joy being found as God's children are awakened to their destiny 'in Christ', as Paul puts it. It is a joy this world cannot know, but only God's children as they walk with Him.
Don't think that God is less than loving, less than perfect, less than caring for you, less than God and savior. Don't let someone steal your hope that God has promised and will deliver. Thieves steal by sharing hopeless facts that end in this world and deny the glory that are found in God alone. Where else can you hear about Him but His word, written by His beloved prophets? Glory in knowing Him better by following Him in obedience to His word. That sacrifice is never overlooked by God. He is a debtor to no one and always gives His Spirit to all who seek Him.
Blessings

"Our struggle is not against flesh and blood..."

I didn't really understand the depth of this verse for a long time. As we compare notes with people who have a belief system not based upon Scripture, it is evident that we share a few things in common, but we also notice sharp differences. Many people would rather not delve into the disagreements, but I have little qualms since I already know the differences. Since our world is descended into sin and all people here are earthly in spirit, Holiness is a foreign entity to them. I know, they may say they are believers, etc, but they are not God's child because it takes God to make someone His child, not them alone. Everyone believes something, but even the Devil believes in God and he is going to Hell. Belief can't save a person or else everyone is saved from themselves for everyone believes something. God made us to believe only in Him--the first three commandments. To believe in anything except the One true God is blasphemy. Back to struggling not with flesh and blood.
As we debate with non-believers, it becomes obvious that there is a division that man cannot join. We can try to be nice and get along, but the division is there, nonetheless. A child of God is separated from non-believers to God Himself. This is the meaning of 'Holy' and God does it for us. We have a relationship with God we never had before and there is a division that wasn't there before we believed with non-believers. It is a puzzlement, since we know how they believe but they can't understand God, since it isn't knowledge alone that lets us know God, but His Holy Spirit.
As we struggle to share Christ and truth with the unsaved, we honestly don't struggle with them, but for them. They are captive to their born nature, Adam's fallen nature. Scripture says they are 'captive', 'blind', 'enslaved' and 'in chains'. We don't struggle with the captives, but with the spiritual realm behind their minds. They can know nothing outside of their realm of spirit. We can understand since we used to be there, but now we are God's child. A lot is not understood, but these things are easily evident since Scripture explains the differences. I think there are some Christians that are afraid to be seen as different from this world, not knowing what God has planned for them. If we don't set our minds to be fixed on Christ and renew our minds with Scripture, then we really can't understand anything about our heavenly Father even though He has saved us from the judgment of this world. Christ took our judgment upon Himself on the cross, so now there is no condemnation for His children.
There is a huge difference between being God's child and the child of this world, but the struggle is not with people, but the spiritual realm behind the person's mind, whoever they may be. We can be God's ambassadors, reaching out into a lost world if we know the difference and our God.
Blessings.

The references to dark spirtual forces seems to throw some people in this passage. They like to think that it is about negative beliefs, etc, but Paul is conveying truth about real evil spirits, even in power structures. The demonic have arrayed themselves in a copy of God's angelic powers (the devil only copies what he has seen) and so the evil has ranks of 'rulers, authorities, powers'. They are organized and working toward a common goal:mankind in subjection to them. By and large, it has worked. Notwithstanding, Christ has overcome this world, but only at great cost to himself on our behalf, to bring us to God.
Note the fact that Christ 'brings us to God'. No one can bring themselves to God, elsewise, we would be good enough to save ourselves. Some part of us would be good enough and sufficient for salvation or sanctification, but this is not possible. We would not need a savior, then and God would have made a mistake sending his son to be the savior. God makes no mistakes. We are part of His plan, too.
Blessings today.

Pansy wrote: "@Douglas: Have you ever read the book Alive for the First Time: A Fresh Look at the New-Birth Miracle? I really liked this one."

Pansy, I just checked this book out online. It is written by one of my Professors back at Multnomah Bible College! Dr. Needham was a wonderful man of God. I will put this on my list to read. Thanks.

Douglas wrote: "Pansy wrote: "@Douglas: Have you ever read the book Alive for the First Time: A Fresh Look at the New-Birth Miracle? I really liked this one."

Pansy, I just checked this book out o..."

Oh my goodness, you went to Multnomah? So did my dad, and Dr. Needham was his professor too! :-O

smiley fail :-(

lol your smiley was funny! :D

LOL

:)

Pansy wrote: "Douglas wrote: "Pansy wrote: "@Douglas: Have you ever read the book Alive for the First Time: A Fresh Look at the New-Birth Miracle? I really liked this one."

Pansy, I just checked..."

Dr. Needham was at Multnomah in 83-85 when I attended classes. He definately was a bright spot amongst the other teachers there. Very charismatic and always had a smile on his face. It was under him that I was taught the difference of the New Birth in Christ and the old life. Life changing truths, for sure.

I'M GLAD I AM A PART OF THIS GROUP.
THANKS FOR THE FELLOWSHIP. I'VE TRIED OTHER FORUMS HERE ON G.R., AND I'VE FOUND NO SOLACE IN IT

I agree, this is a good group

this is freedom here

I <3 CSG!! ;-)

You have freedom in other groups Marco..people just shoot you down I think. /:

We have a more courteous environment here. I would definitely call that freedom. Other groups may CLAIM to allow free discussion, but the head mods basically decide what is "right" and what is not

Oh, true.

Marco wrote: "I'M GLAD I AM A PART OF THIS GROUP.
THANKS FOR THE FELLOWSHIP. I'VE TRIED OTHER FORUMS HERE ON G.R., AND I'VE FOUND NO SOLACE IN IT"

:D

Marco and the others are welcomed here. We need a place to understand in a positive way who we are in Christ and express that. Christ is our rock and hiding place, our sword and our shield. This world is pre-disposed against holiness, being darkened in nature. We are not to become too comfortable for this is not our home. Blessings to all who seek to know our Lord and follow Him.

Ephesians 6:13
"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day,and having done everything, to stand firm."

This is the fourth time I have posted this message, but my computer keeps hanging up as I post! How frustrating. I will have to make multiple short posts to ensure success.

Because this world is not our home any more, we are fitted for living in God's presence above, forever. Some believers are frustrated since they have lost their happiness in this world, but they haven't come to realize that God has given us ultimate joy in seeking Him. We are new creations in Christ for His pleasure. As we come to realize our life is not our own, then God's wisdom in changing us to fit His character eternally begins to shine in our hearts!

It is sometimes humorous that Evolution is such a big argument between believers and Non. Evolution is true...for us believers. God has given us the ultimate 'evolution', changing us from lost sinners into His image and right before the unbelieving worlds' eyes and they don't even realize it! They argue about old dead bones while we are walking in God's own foot steps before their eyes, and the world awaits to see who the sons of God are to be revealed. You have to admit, God has a sense of humor. We are born of God, not of people's decisions, intelligence or will-power, but of God's will. No wonder the world will never feel comfortable in our presence--we have evolved (or we have been 'birthed')into God's character or holiness and even we don't know all the changes that have taken place in us, but we know they have happened: We no longer view God from the worlds' perspective anymore.

Now, God has given us several pieces of armor for us to wear or understand about our walk with Him. Paul tells us that knowing God and obeying Him is a decision that each believer must make individually. No one can make it for you, because God won't let them. It is a sacred priviledge and rite of passage to decide to please God as His child. It does not happen on its own, because God wants us to know more about our relationship with Him and we are the ones that need to understand, not Him. As we know God more, we come to several conclusions:

He is God; we are not.

He is holy in Himself; we are holy because He made us holy.

He is loving, pure, sinless; we are only Godly in Christ.

He possesses eternal life in Himself and shares it with whomever He wishes; we can chose to obey Him, but we have nothing eternal to leave to anyone.

He listens to our prayers and our prayer changes things here that might not have been changed had we not prayed to God in Christ.

Standing firm.

Paul was a believer in using his time here on earth to glorify God. It is ironic that he was at one time the greatest enemy of Christ in the world. He did more damage to Christ's family here on earth than any other single person. Then in one quick twinkling of an eye....he was changed. God opened his eyes (after blinding him for a time)and allowed his mind to comprehend the Truth (yes, the absolute and infinite truth)of God incarnate, Jesus the Christ. Now,he realized his blasphemy and was instantly repentant. This was the work of God.

As such a blasphemer (proclaiming Jesus a false Christ and persecuting his followers), he was not only guilty of death, but eternal damnation. Think of it:a man of God, working with all his soul to achive God's blessings, suddenly found on the opposite side of God and an object of His wrath! Saul was a destroyed man by his own hard work. How could such a thing happen to a scholar of God's Word? God's Spirit was lacking. As such, he was locked into the understanding of this dark world and could only understand as some on this board do: empirical data and unholiness is the norm. Saul took this to its logical end and came up lost.

By allowing Saul to pursue his logical end, he stands as a picture of the common man pursuing God. Hopeless. But, all is not lost with God. Since God is merciful and gracious, He chose in Saul's case, to open his eyes. God doesn't open all people's eyes or if He does, they chose not to follow. But in Saul's case, he repented when he saw the Truth. It is sad when the unbelievers hear Scripture and reject, but this is normal for this world. For us believers, we have been given the choice to choose to follow. This is a mystery since we are fit for heaven in our soul, but our body is at home here and now. Choice in the regenrate person is truly a mystery. The unsaved are locked into unbelief, but we are not. Now, to choose to follow and be found as one who stands! That is what we are called to do of our own choosing. What a blessing...to be able to choose, especially in light of what we have been given.

V. 14 "Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth..."

This admonition is to 'Stand' according to what God has given us in Christ, not our own power. Since it is only in 'foolish' things that can't be touched or grasped, God is showing us the nature of our warfare: spiritual. By faith.
As those unbelievers challenge our faith outside of Christ, we must not be tempted to go outside to engage the enemy. It is 'in Christ' we have been saved and there we will stand. Legal arguments should be met with Scripture. Empirical arguments met with Scripture. Evolution arguments met with Scripture. You may say "But the unbeliever rejects Scripture and laughs at me." Welcome to the war, child of God.
It is through Scripture you came to know God and it is there you are bulletproof and can lead others to Him.

"Having girded your loins with truth"

Paul uses a term of action and readiment with our spirtual faith. It is not static. We stand in our faith or we fall. Some here have fallen, but it isn't forever. Remember God has given life to whoever He pleases, not on our account alone. No merit of ours.
The girding of the loins is the way a person would ready themselves for action or battle. In the context, battle is most likely. No one went into battle without preparation, but it seems Christians today just walk out into life and Wham!, down they go and then they wonder what happened. They don't realize they have a target right on their chest as God's child in a dark world.

The target they carry on their chest is none other than Christ himself. The world hates Christ or else they don't know Him. Those in darkness are as ignorant as some of us, so this shouldn't surprise us. They only know for sure that they don't want holiness interfering with their lives. Once they fully understand how lost they are, Christ either becomes sweeter or more disdained than ever. He has then been viewed through more truthful eyes.
Truth is what girds up our loins, as it were. How can a believer keep from continually ending up face-down in the mud? Know the Lord. He is truth.

By knowing Christ more and more, ignorance flees and God is appreciated more for what He has done for us. Knowing truth also lets believers in on a dirty little secret: we are born in the midst of a battle field, not a daisy field. The enemy immediately focuses in on the new born to attempt to discourage them into non-action and non-praise. If God hasn't done anything for them, then they won't seek to know him better, right? Ignorance paralyzes. Some unbelievers on this board seek actively to discourage believers with incomplete propoganda that seemingly disproves God or His Lordship. Nothing is more wrong, but new believers fall for the lie time and time again. Know the truth and it shall set you free from the lie about God and who you are. You are children of the king. No lie can change that, so look to Him and His word. You can never lose or be put to shame as you hang on His promises.

"With the breastplate of righteousness in place"

As you share Christ, you will be attacked and called 'self-righteous', since you share what is right and wrong according to God. You will need to understand you are not righteous in yourself, but only 'in Christ'. There you are righteous and know the truth. "I am a sinner just like you and not righteous in myself. I am righteous in Christ and only in Him, therefore I will not back down. I know the truth and God is righteous."

We are not righteous in ourselves, in our flesh. We are condemned and don't live in or trust our flesh. In Christ, we are right before God and he has judged us in Christ. He has judged His Word also, and he has accepted it, so we can also. We must be fearless and loving, refusing to backdown when it comes to the truth of Christ and our stand in Him. God finds nothing condemning in Christ or in us. Rejoice. We are His children and look to the sure hope of eternity with Him.

"And your feet fitted with...the Gospel of Peace."

The Gospel is the Good News of Christs Advent. The Truth of his coming in the flesh. His work on the Cross. The grace that shares it with us. How else can someone share the Good News than by knowing His Word? The Word of God is seen by our actions, but God is known by His Word.

Someone may say "I show people God by my works". But without God's Word to confirm them, you are a Buddhist or a kind athiest. They will never trust Christ without the words "Jesus" coming from your lips. And we know Jesus by his words, revealing him to us. So the argument goes, but God's Word isn't heard without contact with other people and without hearing the word of God, none are saved. Romans 10. "Faith comes by good works...? No. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God". The Gospel never points to any other god or God than Jesus. His is the only name given to man by which we must be saved. The Gospel is Jesus.

"v. 16 "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One."

As you share your faith with non-believers, remember that the common ground you share (natural truth, natural science, mathematics, following the Law of the land, etc)can be a bonding point only for a bit. The shallow basis for commonality is limited to these things. When you try to convince someone about your God, you will be on unproven territory. And the Evil One will want to stop it right there. Our God is bigger, though. Praise God.

The Shield of Faith must never be surrendered. You have come to believe in Jesus through faith, which is the gift of God. You never go beyond that faith either. It is a constant companion of your walk here on this earth. Only when you are in heaven, face to face with Jesus himself, will your faith be no longer needed. 'You will be like him for you shall see him as he is.' Never give in to a question you can't answer. No one knows everything, so therefore your answer is "I'm not sure what the answer is, but I know God is true to Himself. I will try and find the answer to your question." This is the shield of faith: trusting in God even when you don't know the answer. You know God is who He says He is, so never give that up. Why would a person say "I don't know why God would do that, so I guess He blew it/ or isn't a good God, etc".

The attacks come against your knowledge to discourage your faith. The enemy of faith uses earthly arguments to attempt to destroy heavenly faith. Can you understand this concept? Using the only thing people can fathom, they use unbelief and seeming contradictions to attack faith. I personally have come under hundreds of attacks and have come to the conclusion: Never give up your faith because they don't believe it. You know you do and it has been given to you personally from God. There has never been a successful contradiction of God that has held water before faith. I have explained away hundreds of contradictions by knowing God through His word. You can too.

I will give anyone on this board one contradiction to present to me. Only one. I don't like to get in arguments. I have been burned out on other boards and God has seen to limit my posting here on Goodreads by not allowing me long answers. My computer connection to the internet dies on long answers. Very interesting.

Ephesian 6 Armor of God is absolutely amazing....

Christina wrote: "Ephesian 6 Armor of God is absolutely amazing...."

Praise God and thank you, Christina. It is a neat little study, isn't it.

As the shield is held, it is apparent that it is a defensive weapon. The armor is defensive, also, but not as heavily armored as the armor. In battle, the shield would stop all threats, whereas the armor worn would deflect some blows. The shield was mobile, able to be moved into the area of immediate need. The blow could be deflected from around the entire body, therefore the shield was a primary defense and the body armor a secondary defense. Without the faith shield, an armored soldier was still vulnerable to the fast flying arrows that could pierce and kill.

What is apparent is this: none of the armor was redundant. It all played its role in battle to this one end: to keep the soldier alive. To win the battle, but lose your life was somewhat a loss anyway. God gives us this armor for a purpose:to live to become like Christ. To live in this world and not battle with darkness is to be defeated, even while Christ has won the battle. No one can be taken captive unless they give up or are ignorant of the battle at hand. Some soldiers are killed on the field in real life and others are taken captive and forced into slavery for the victor. You make the analogy fit however you like. Blessings for today.

I know the 'battle picture' isn't a pretty one. For some reason Paul picked it as appropriate to reveal heavenly truths to an earthly situation.

The 'firey darts' are like the arrows that were lit and shot beyond the castle walls to destroy the comfort, shelter, food and defenses of the defending city. The enemy knows how to wage battle. He knows the human weaknesses. He knows he doesn't have to be smart and witty to get us to sin. We are all made out of the same flesh and fall quite easily with a common tempt. He follows the same plan he has always followed and it works well. We are weak and defeated quite easily in our own defenses. Christ however is a high tower for all believers. A defense not beaten by Satan. Tested and tried, he was victorious and so are all who are 'in Christ'.
As the firey darts of the enmy attack our defenses, the shield of faith in Christ is our most useful weapon. Never failed when used properly.