It was early in my pastoral career; I was serving two small community churches about 16 miles apart. I received a call from a woman at one of the churches.
The woman told me that a friend of a friend, heard of a family in the community, whose mother was in critical condition at a local hospital; and would I go see her.
New to ministry, and wanting to be a good pastor, I said that I would go. I put on my pastor suit, grabbed my Bible and headed to the hospital. I was ill prepared for what I was about to encounter.
Stepping Into the Unknown
When I arrived to the hospital, I asked for the room number of the ailing mother. I approached the room with a great deal of anxiety; not knowing what to expect.
The door was open, so I gently entered the room, standing in the doorway. I saw about 8 people in the room, and an elderly woman in the hospital bed.
She was on life support; a respirator was helping her breathe; I could tell she was not long for this world.
When the family in the room turned to see who I was, they recognized I was a preacher; two of the teenage granddaughters, burst into tears and ran out of the room past me. The rest of the family just looked at me, not saying a word.
Divine Interruption
I began to stammer a bit, as I struggled for something to say. I told them that a friend of a friend of theirs had mentioned to a friend of mine, the situation regarding their mother and I thought I should come . . . awkward silence ensued!
As I stood there, in that tongue-tied, odd moment of indecision, the Lord took action; the power went out to the entire hospital!
The room went dark for about 15 seconds; which seemed like an eternity. The magnetic doors to all the rooms slammed shut; the poor woman on the ventilator began to choke and gasp for air, alarms were going off, and the family in the room began to panic!
The whole power outage was short lived, but it created quite a stir; the nurses came bursting into the room, caring for the elderly woman; resetting the alarms and making sure she stabilized.
Purpose in the Chaos
When the pandemonium calmed down; I whispered; “Lord, You don’t ever have to do that again . . . I know what I need to do and why I am here.”
I went to the bedside of the woman and I took her hand. I could not tell if she could hear me or not; she never once opened her eyes.
I told her that I was a pastor who came to pray for her. I began to tell her how much Jesus loved her, and that she needed to trust in Him right now.
I shared a little more about Jesus, and then I asked if she was trusting in Jesus right now; at that instant, she gripped my hand hard, an indication to me that she heard everything I was saying, and that she was indeed trusting in Him.
I told her that if Jesus comes to her soon, that it is all right to go to Him. I said a prayer for her, and then quietly left the room.
Ministry Beyond the Hospital
The next afternoon, Jesus came to receive her, and she went quietly with Him.
The family, none of whom attended any church, called me to see if I would do the funeral for their mom, since “I knew her.” I graciously accepted the request with honor. I began the funeral service by telling the very same story, I just told you!
God helps us in our walk with Him, going to extraordinary steps; getting our attention. He got mine that day, and reminded me that I am on a mission to let people know, sick or not, that He is near, He loves them, and wants them to follow Him . . . It is that simple!
I recall one hot summer afternoon when I was about 8 years old my dad, mom and me, went looking for some chokecherries so mom could make some chokecherry jam!
There were a few chokecherry trees not far from our property, so we took a couple of small buckets and off we went. We found a tree loaded with them, but the first few branches were high of the ground, so dad hoisted me up, then handed me the bucket, and I scurried up into the tree.
Wild Chokecherries
I was carefully plucking chokecherries, when suddenly; I felt a sting on the back of my neck, then another, and another! In a matter of seconds, I felt stung repeatedly!
I dropped the bucket and started yelling to dad as I made my descent as quickly as possible. When I got to the last branch, I jumped into dads arms and we ran away as fast as we could!
When we got home, mom attended to my stinging wounds; stung about a dozen times or more.
A hornets’ nest, tucked in the tree; unnoticed by us, and disturbed by my presence, the hornets attacked me!
White Faced Hornet
Watch out for Hornets in the wild
I am so glad that my parents rushed me home and took care of my stinging wounds, applying pain-relieving ointments and cold cloths to the afflicted areas. I am sure the temptation was for my dad to knock down that hornet nest and make them “pay” for what they did to me.
The fact is, we have hornets in the wild, and when we get too close to their nests, they react. It is best to be a little more careful when investigating the great wilderness surrounding us, and when we locate a hornets’ nest, give it a wide berth.
It is an entirely different situation when the hornets decide to build near our home; we simply cannot permit it, so we take measures to ensure that does not happen. When we spy those aerial stinging insects, attempting to build a nest on our house, we knock it down and destroy it swiftly.
Furthermore, we remain diligent, keeping close watch, inspecting our homes and properties often, making sure they are safe from these stinging critters.
We are born with a fatal sting
While remembering this almost forgotten event from my childhood, it dawned on me, that we could make an important spiritual application from this story.
We know that, spiritually speaking, we are all born with a sting in our soul, a spiritually fatal sting; we know only one cure for this lethal condition, and that would be Jesus.
Jesus went to the Cross embracing every sting of every person; you could say on the Cross-, He was swarmed. The fierce stings of sin penetrated His flesh, burning deep.
Even after He had given up His Spirit to the Father, one last “sting” for good measure given, as they pierced His side! It was finished!
Of course, we know that the Father raised Jesus up; Praise God for that! The Bible now declares . . .
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
For those who have come to Christ Jesus, the “sting” of death, now erased, and all our “stings” forgiven; this is great news!
On a mission to remove the sting of death
Now, as followers of Jesus, we are on a mission to show people everywhere, how to get that “sting” of death out, and replaced with the River of Life!
Early in my Christian journey, as I wandered through our community, I noticed all these “hornet” nests established throughout our town; cults, bars, secret societies, and the like. I recall standing in front of these establishments praying against them, invoking the power of God to come and destroy these places of iniquity.
Almost every time I did this, I would feel swarmed by “demonic hornets” throughout the following week; some spiritual attacks were quite vicious and painful; I got the feeling the devil was out for blood!
I began to wonder what I was doing wrong, so I began to examine Jesus’ life and His tactics; and my eyes opened.
During the time of Jesus’ ministry, certainly one HUGE hornet nest, was the Roman Empire. The folks following Jesus, wanted Him to eradicate that nest; to tear it down and bring freedom, political freedom from the oppression everyone felt from that ungodly regime!
Jesus did not go to Rome, standing there praying against it; rather He went to people, offering to remove the “sting” of death from their heart. He knew advancing His Kingdom would happen, one heart at a time!
He focused on His mission; Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
His mission has become our mission; we would do well to follow it!
Do not permit hornets to build in your house
Jesus did not go to the “hornet nests” in the wild; rather He left them alone. However, He would NOT tolerate the building of “hornet nests” in His household; He tore them down quickly, and so should we!
It is one thing to encounter a hornets’ nest in the wild, and another thing to discover one in your house. The ones we find in the wild, we avoid, and give wide berth to; the ones we find in our home, we quickly exterminate, so it is in the Kingdom of Christ!
When Jesus encountered the money-changers, Pharisees, and false teachers of the Law, doing business in His Father’s house, He let them have it, and called them out; even driving them out with a whip!
Jesus driving out the money-changers
In light of these truths, I have decided to change my tactics a bit; rather than looking for spiritual hornet nests in the wild, and standing there shouting at them. I have decided to concentrate on identifying hornet nests inside the church (His Body) exposing and knocking them down!
I intend to be intentionally helping persons remove the sting of death in their soul; then warning them to stay away from known hornets nests in the wild.
Now, don’t get me wrong here, if the Holy Spirit directs me to stand in front of a hornet nest and shout at it; I will do so without hesitation, fully expecting that the nest will fall, just like the walls of Jericho fell when the Israelite army shouted at it!
Meanwhile . . . there are stings to remove, soothing salve to apply, a Kingdom to advance . . . one soul at a time!
You Have Been Seated with Christ in the Heavenly Realms
God’s great hope for us is not simply the forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven when we die; but rather, He wants us totally restored, in heart, mind and soul . . . NOW!
As we enter into this amazing adventure with God, we soon recognize that we are a part of something tremendous, something that is beyond our earthy perspective, and we are transported into the heavens with Christ; we live, breathe, and find our being in Him!
This Bible study will help you rediscover how it all began, what happened in the Garden of Eden, who is the Devil really, and what is he up to today.
Head into the heavenly realms and discover profound truths concerning your relationship with God, and His incredible plan for you.
Search your heart, preparing for a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this study, you will enter into God’s armory, suiting up with the whole armor of God.
Discover the Keys to the Kingdom given to you, and learn what they unlock; discovering your true nature in Christ, the authority given, the Sword of the Spirit, the covering armor, and the mission ahead, you will truly learn to pray . . . Upside Down!
I want to share something that happened early in my Christian journey, something that would define and shape my call to evangelistic ministry; a vision I had while I was working at a local factory; it took place a few months after I met Jesus.
I must be upfront and say, over the course of the many years that I have been following Jesus, I have only had a few, what I call “visions” from God; I could count them all on one hand.
This particular vision took place while I was running a rotary hammer, drilling through 12 inches of concrete.
Two Groups: The Blinded and The Believers
To begin, the Bible reveals two people groups on this planet; those who have had their eyes opened to the truth of Jesus Christ and have chosen to follow Him, and those who remain blinded to the truth and cannot see.
The Bible declares that satan (the god of this age) has kept a certain population blinded from the truth . . .
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God
Satan has done an amazing job of keeping people in the dark about Jesus. So many people have bought into the lies perpetrated by faulty science; a science which denies the existence of God and attempts to tamp down any knowledge of God in the creation around us. The Bible says a few things about these folks . . .
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
It is a very difficult thing to try to disprove the existence of God, it takes a long, sophisticated, patient process; one thing for sure, the devil is quite patient and has been laying this demonic groundwork for years and has been quite successful!
The second group is those who have heard the Good News and have believed it; however, it is not enough to believe, one MUST follow the One they have believed in, the One who holds the keys to life, and death, heaven and hell.
These folks, having heard the Good News about salvation, have decided to follow Him.
There is no middle ground, you can no more be half saved than you can be half-pregnant, you either are, or you are not!
To know the truth of Christ and yet refuse to follow Him, places you in a special category, a place despised by God who gave everything, so you could have eternal life with Him!
The Dark Train Revealed
At the time of my vision, I was not a pastor; I was a welder and maintenance worker at local manufacturing plant called Pennsylvania Pressed Metals.
One afternoon while I was drilling a hole in the concrete floor, a vision flashed through my mind that was so powerful, so strong that I stood there with tears streaming down my face; hot tears dripping in the dust of the concrete floor.
Since I was a little boy, trains have always fascinated me. These machines are so strong, so powerful; they are simply amazing to watch.
Growing up in the little Village of Cameron, I would often hike up the mountain behind our house, and if you were on top of the mountain, you could see the whole train go by; from the engine to the caboose, you could see the whole train, it was awesome!
As I stood drilling in the plant that afternoon, I felt transported from the factory, to a high bank overlooking the railroad; it was so real.
Standing there in this vision, I felt the ground began to tremble, and I heard a strong, powerful sound coming down the track. The sound and vibrations grew stronger and stronger.
Suddenly I noticed a train, sleek, streamlined and moving at an incredible speed, careening around the corner coming in my direction.
The train was very long and as it sped toward me I began to feel uneasy and wanted to run away, but my feet, fixed firmly to the ground, prevented me from moving!
The Beast’s Train
As the train came into view and began to scream past me, I noticed that it had number on the front and the number was 666 and just above the number, written in large letters “THE BEAST.” I stood motionless, terrified at what I was seeing!
The windows were black as coal, and as the train roared by, sparks were flying off the iron wheels! There was the smell of death and a feeling of despair.
I could sense inside the train were countless souls screaming for release, but they could not get out; bound to a destination that was eternal, a destination bringing fear and torment to their souls.
As I stood there petrified at what I saw, I felt Someone standing next to me; it was the Lord. I asked Him what this all meant. He told me that the train represented the devil and he is taking his own to their final destination.
The Lord told me that the devil is exceedingly angry and is filling the train as fast as he can, with and many souls as he can, because he knows his time is short.
Jesus said that the train was full of those who had rejected His message of salvation. They were the ones, who had heard what He had done for them, who knew the Way, but chose instead, to do life on their own terms and had died without Christ and now were eternally lost.
I saw tears well up in the eyes of the Savior and He spoke these words to me; “some on this train have never heard of what I had done for them; no one ever told them that they could be forgiven, having everlasting life with Me; these are also forever lost, and are on that train too.”
It was as this point, I began to weep too and hot tears fell to the dusty floor of that factory!
I began to realize that everyone is born with a ticket to ride this long black train! Josh Turner, a Country Western Singer, became popular when he wrote the song “Long Black Train” written about 9 years after my vision.
The Call to Share the Gospel
As I stood there weeping, it became increasingly clear, that the Lord was sorrowful because many who were perishing, did not have to! He was heartbroken that no one was telling them that they could avoid this destruction!
The Bible declares . . .
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!
People all around us are perishing because they have never heard the Good News! Moreover, did you know, as a follower of Christ, it is YOUR responsibility to share?
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. . .
This is a direct command from Jesus Himself to you and me, to be about making sure this message gets out; it is not secondary, but is His prime directive!
The Glory Train
As I stood weeping with the Lord, He pointed in an opposite direction and told me to look and see!
I saw another train, much different from the first. I could sense that it had much more power than the first train.
The earth also shook as this train approached. As it rounded the corner, I could hardly contain my excitement at what I saw!
It was beautiful! The train was silver, adorned with gold trimmings and splashed with jewels of every kind and brilliant flashing lights.
On the front of this train was a gold emblem “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” and its Conductor’s name is Faithful and True!
As this train went by, I saw an astonishing thing taking place; as the large golden wheels rolled over the rail, it immediately turned to gold!
The windows were large and clear, I could easily see inside, it was beautiful beyond description, and I could see the people, their faces filled with expressions of joy. I could hear beautiful music and singing of praises.
I felt an amazing sense of peace, joy and wonder. The people on this train, also headed to a destination, a place called glory, a place where their joy and happiness would never end!
The Lord told me that only one thing was required to get on this train; a repentant heart, one touched by His Hand, a heart that carried His Spirit!
Oh how the Lord longs for a repentant heart today! The proud stubborn heart has a guaranteed seat on the dark train; it is time to turn in that ugly ticket to hell and get one stamped Glory!
Time Is Running Out
Time is getting short and tickets are running out . . .
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
The awesome and terrible day of the Lord is drawing near and without a repentant heart, you have no salvation and a black, cold dark train, is bearing down upon your soul!
Inevitable Collision
As I stood there watching this scene play out before my eyes, I saw something terrible and wonderful at the same time!
I realized that these trains were riding on the same track; headed for a collision; one train faces complete destruction, the other would prevail . . . one train would be full of life, the other full of death!
One would face an eternity separated from God, tormented day and night forever and ever, the other, unending joy with Jesus!
Call and A Challenge
Today I issue a call and a challenge . . .
First the call . . . there are some reading this today who are unsure of their eternal destiny. Some of you have wanted to follow Jesus, but have been afraid, some have been lulled into a false sense of security, others are fearful of what people may think.
Today the Holy Spirit has uncovered your vulnerability and is giving you an opportunity for life; a chance to get your ticket stamped for glory! Today is the day . . .
For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Please, I beg you; do not let this opportunity slip by, let nothing get in the way of you and Jesus!
Now, the challenge . . .
The dark train is filling fast; many souls are being lost every day! For those of you who are followers of Jesus, you have a job to do! It is your response – “ability” to share the Gospel of Jesus!
Take Jesus with you to work, take Him everywhere you go and ask Him to provide opportunities for you to share!
Your Decision Matters
Finally, one last closing story to illustrate this need . . .
A woman was standing before the Lord on judgment day. As she came near to the Lord, she heard Him say these comforting words; “come over here my good and faithful servant, you belong to me.”
As she stood beside the Lord, she saw an old friend approaching the Lord too. When she stood before the Lord, He looked at her, and with sadness in His eyes, told her, “go away from me, I do not know you” and he sent her to the place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth! As the women turned to her fate, she saw her old friend standing by Jesus and cried out; “Why didn’t you tell me about Him? Why?
This is the tale of two trains, one bound for Glory, one bound for Hell, which one are you on?
You Have Been Seated with Christ in the Heavenly Realms
God’s great hope for us is not simply the forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven when we die; but rather, He wants us totally restored, in heart, mind and soul . . . NOW!
As we enter into this amazing adventure with God, we soon recognize that we are a part of something tremendous, something that is beyond our earthy perspective, and we are transported into the heavens with Christ; we live, breathe, and find our being in Him!
This Bible study will help you rediscover how it all began, what happened in the Garden of Eden, who is the Devil really, and what is he up to today.
Head into the heavenly realms and discover profound truths concerning your relationship with God, and His incredible plan for you.
Search your heart, preparing for a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this study, you will enter into God’s armory, suiting up with the whole armor of God.
Discover the Keys to the Kingdom given to you, and learn what they unlock; discovering your true nature in Christ, the authority given, the Sword of the Spirit, the covering armor, and the mission ahead, you will truly learn to pray . . . Upside Down!
Growing up, our family were neighbors with the James Baker family; James (Jim) was the high school biology teacher, and the head wrestling coach. His influence brought all the neighborhood boys into the wresting club. I started my school-wrestling career when I was in the 6th grade.
When I was in high school, I made the wrestling team; we were called; BAGUBA’s, pronounced BAH-GOO-BAH. It was an acronym that stood for: Brutally Aggressive Guy Uninhibited By Adversity.
Preparing for the Physical Match
Stretching and Conditioning
To be a wrestler requires tremendous practice and preparation. A typical practice session begins by stretching. We would stretch our legs, arms, and even stretch our necks by doing what we call the arch technique; while laying flat on your back, arms across your chest, you would arch your body upward, using only your neck muscle. I recall the first few weeks of practice everyone had sore necks!
After 15 to 20 minutes of stretching, we would do sprints back and forth across the gymnasium to build up our cardio. We would do this until we thought we would drop!
The Wrestling Room Experience
Once we stretched and got our heart rate pumping, we would go into the wrestling room! The heated room felt like a sauna! The floor and walls were padded, and a ladder attached to the ceiling.
We would each take turns going across the ladder. You jumped up, grabbed a rung, then pulled your knees up to your chest, going across the ladder as fast as possible; it was grueling!
Learning the Moves
Once all these preliminary steps were out of the way, the “Real” practice began! We would learn wrestling maneuvers and tactics, practicing on each other in that sweltering room.
Finally, we would end the practice session by doing an exercise called, “Shark Bait.” You broke into groups of four, as close to a similar weight class as possible. One wrestler would be the “Bait” and would wrestle the other three, one at a time; one minute each; once finished, a second wrestler would be the “Bait.” The session continued until all had an opportunity to wrestle.
After an hour and a half of wrestling practice, you were exhausted, and trust me, you felt it the next day!
Facing the Real Challenge
All of this practice and preparation helped get us ready for a real match. When that day came, everything you had leaned and practiced, you needed to remember.
When you entered the ring and looked your opponent in the eyes, it was game on!
Wrestling is a hard sport and not for the squeamish, you will have your limits tested, you will learn what it feels like to be beaten, and what it feels like to win. It is an aggressive sport, and as our name declared; it is “Brutally Aggressive.”
The Spiritual Wrestling Match
As Christians, the Apostle Paul reminds us, that we are in a spiritual wrestling match; and the stakes are very high! Let us listen in as Paul reveals this truth . . .
Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
In this amazing passage, the Apostle Paul reveals what we need to do, in order to win this spiritual wrestling match. Let us look into it . . .
Armor Up for the Spiritual Battle
Belt of Truth
In the time of the Apostle Paul’s writing to the church in Ephesus, the Romans soldiers were on patrol throughout the area. The Roman soldier wore armor to protect himself in battle. The “BELT” sometimes called the “GIRDLE” set in place, buckled around the middle.
The lower armor hung on the belt, and the sword rested in a sheath attached to the belt. The “BELT” was central to the armor of the Roman soldier, and the Belt of Truth is central to the Christian’s armor too; everything hangs on this.
Truth remains truth, so long as it is not manipulated or twisted. Satan loves to take Scripture out of context, and bend it to get his way, rather than God’s way.
GOD EXPECTS US TO WALK IN TRUTH ALWAYS, even if it may cause pain, we need to be truthful at all times. We must be truthful about ourselves, in our “INMOST PARTS” not holding back from God anything that would keep us from Him.
Psalm 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Satan referred to as “THE FATHER OF LIES” does some of his most crafty work in this area. Let us be careful not to give him a foothold, but rather buckle firmly the belt of truth around your waist.
Breastplate of Righteousness
The Roman soldiers wore a breastplate. This piece of armor PROTECTED THE HEART, and other vital organs from attack, and without this essential piece of armor, the soldier was vulnerable to a fatal strike.
FOR THE CHRISTIAN, THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS INDISPENSABLE, without this, we would be vulnerable to attack as well, an attack of the heart!
Satan loves to accuse, cast doubt, and instill fear, in the heart of the believer.
Unless we have this covering over our heart, his attacks may prove successful! God’s word declares the believer, righteous in Christ.
Romans 4:6-7 Just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sin are covered. . .
Imputed – to ascribe to or charge (a person) with an act or quality because of the conduct of another over whom one has control or for whose acts or conduct one is responsible.
It is sometimes hard for us to believe that simply by placing faith in JESUS CHRIST, ALL our sins forgiven, and we stand before God as if we never did anything wrong.
Just like Abraham “BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS” we believe God too, and by faith, just like Abraham, we believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Our sins forgiven, WE STAND, NOT IN OUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT IN CHRIST’S.
Feet Fitted with the Gospel of Peace
We are now going to get our FEET FITTED with a pair of GOSPEL SHOES!
Following the Lord is not an easy task. The road may get difficult, we see SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS to crush along the way, and hot desert places to walk through. We need the proper equipment to walk this path.
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
God has lifted us up out of dark places and sets us on a solid path; directing our steps.
Psalm 40:2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.
As you can see, our God is able to cause us to stand, and He gives us spiritual SHOES, that will tread down our enemy. This is good news, but there is more.
Once we have our feet fitted with shoes that are able to cause us to stand, and have the ability to crush our enemy, we need to use these shoes to carry forward the incredible message of the GOSPEL OF PEACE.
Shield of Faith
When Roman soldiers fought, often they would take their arrows and dip them in tar, then set them on fire before shooting at an enemy. If the arrow hit its mark, it would burn deeply into the flesh, causing great pain, and often would lead to further damage by way of infection. The shield would protect the soldiers from these MISSILES.
In the spiritual realm, Satan launches “FIRE TIPPED MISSILES” at the Christian, trying to inflict pain and infection, causing deep hurts in the heart. Satan’s goal is to get the Christian to strike back.
When a Christian strikes back, returning evil for evil, the tactic Satan used, is successful. With the Shield of Faith, we protect our heart from the ungodly attacks that WILL come our way.
Helmet of Salvation
The helmet was crucial to the Roman soldier. It protected the head. You may recall seeing pictures of Roman soldiers with bright plumage on top of their helmet, this would often indicate what division, or regiment the soldier belonged.
Quite often, as soon as you saw the soldier’s helmet, you knew whom you were going to be fighting.
Satan loves to manipulate and distort God’s Word; he is a master of deception. Often we will find his greatest deceptions have an element of truth to them. We must be on guard at all times.
The HELMET OF SALVATION is vital, as it helps to protect our mind from the continuous attempts by Satan to influence our thoughts.
Salvation is not just redemption; it is also restoration; completeness and a new sense of who we are.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Sword of the Spirit
The WORD OF GOD is more than able to slay the enemy, but we MUST know it, in order to use it! We need to “HIDE IT IN OUR HEART,” meditate on it, filling up on the “WHOLE COUNCIL OF GOD” and not just the parts that make us feel good.
We need to grasp the WORD OF GOD, and learn to use it effectively.
In Roman training manuals, it states that a “sword-slash” rarely kills. A soldier needs to take careful aim, and plunge in the sword.
We too, need to be careful not to wield the WORD OF GOD carelessly, but rather study it, and learn to use it wisely.
Becoming a Spiritual BAGUBA
So, spiritually speaking, are you a BAGUBA:
Brutally Aggressive Guy (or Gal) Uninhibited By Adversity?
Let us be clear; if you belong to Jesus, you ARE in a wrestling match! Your opponent is out for keeps; he is relentless, strong and cunning. The Bible refers to him this way. . .
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
However, with constant training, which includes stretching faith muscles, building perseverance, pressing through the hard trials, enduring persecution, you become stronger and stronger!
Remember, we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS in Christ Jesus!
So, suit up, listen to your Coach, follow His lead, and you will most certainly win the championship crown!
You Have Been Seated with Christ in the Heavenly Realms
God’s great hope for us is not simply the forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven when we die; but rather, He wants us totally restored, in heart, mind and soul . . . NOW!
As we enter into this amazing adventure with God, we soon recognize that we are a part of something tremendous, something that is beyond our earthy perspective, and we are transported into the heavens with Christ; we live, breathe, and find our being in Him!
This Bible study will help you rediscover how it all began, what happened in the Garden of Eden, who is the Devil really, and what is he up to today.
Head into the heavenly realms and discover profound truths concerning your relationship with God, and His incredible plan for you.
Search your heart, preparing for a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this study, you will enter into God’s armory, suiting up with the whole armor of God.
Discover the Keys to the Kingdom given to you, and learn what they unlock; discovering your true nature in Christ, the authority given, the Sword of the Spirit, the covering armor, and the mission ahead, you will truly learn to pray . . . Upside Down!
Anger is an emotion we all have, and how we express it is very important. Uncontrolled anger quickly turns to rage, a form of abuse.
Anger, when properly controlled helps shape new ideas, it is a healthy mechanism used to set boundaries and keep us from over reacting to situations.
You may recall Moses becoming angry many times, as he encountered difficult people, and God used those moments to help shape the man Moses, and indeed an entire nation of people.
Uncontrolled anger turns to rage, and rage is very destructive, often becoming addictive. Anger in and of itself, is not bad. When we are faced with a situation that causes us to become angry, we need to talk it out, find solutions, set boundaries.
Biblical Insights on Anger and Bitterness
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Did you catch that? “Get rid of all bitterness . . .”
Let’s look at this word for a moment.
The root word used for bitterness is:
Pikrospik-ros’ (piercing); sharp (pungent), that is, acrid – bitter.
Explosive Nature of Bitterness: A Historical Analogy
I grew up in Cameron County, a rather remote area in North Central Pennsylvania, the heart of the Pa. Wilds. Residents are familiar with the term Picric.
Early in the settlement of Cameron County, there was an abundance of Hemlock; it was everywhere. The hemlock trees were debarked, and the hemlock bark processed to produce tannin, in turn used in the process of tanning hides.
Picric (bitter) acid helped pull the tannin out of the hemlock bark. Since there was an abundance of Picric acid, also used to produce the powerful explosive TNT, factories sprung up across Cameron County in the 1800’s.
So . . . “Pikros” or bitterness is a powerful explosive, and the Bible says to get rid of it . . . all of it!
Bitterness usually manifests in three ways, bitterness toward God, toward others, and toward oneself.
Bitterness Towards God
Bitterness towards God can happen many different ways, and I have seen it happen many times. A precious loved one is taken away, and there are no clear answers.
Someone prays for a healing, and the object of his or her prayers is suddenly gone!
Someone is faithful to God, serving the church, generous in giving, yet end up losing their job, the house is now in foreclosure, and they are about to lose everything!
The natural question in situations like these are; “why would a loving God allow this to happen?
It is easy to fall into the trap and begin to question God’s love, His mercy, and His wisdom. Perhaps you have been there!
You begin to feel angry at God, and you begin to shrink back from Him. You see God blessing others but you feel cursed and wonder why God is passing you by. I have heard people say; “when is it my time to be blessed!”
Your anger towards God grows, and you become resentful, and question everything God does, you even begin to question the very existence of God. A prime example of this, is found in the Book of Acts.
Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.”
They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them moneyand said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
Simon had a bitter heart because he saw the real power of God being used in common everyday folks and he wanted it!
Bitterness Towards Others
The second way we become bitter is towards others. This usually begins with an offense and a hurt that is not forgiven. Often this takes a lifetime to develop and can start at an early age. A child, abused emotionally or physically, finding no way to express the pain; become angry, and resentful to their parents or toward others.
I have seen families devastated when a cherished family member passes away. Heirlooms divided unevenly, the estate, managed improperly, and someone gets hurt, resentment sets in.
As time progresses, the hurt festers, and bitterness of heart, overtake the person and they become toxic.
When a family lives with a bitter person, life can be almost unbearable! The bitter one cannot truly love, rarely if ever says the words “I love you,” unless spoken with an unhealthy dose of sarcasm.
The bitter person cannot find it within himself or herself, to express hope and encouragement to anyone, life revolves around them and their pain.
The bitter heart always sees itself as the victim, the one who is always hurt, and if not hurt now, will most certainly hurt again soon.
The bitter person is almost always angry about something, works hard at producing guilt feelings in others, and when those they must live with distance themselves, more anger and guilt comes rolling out.
A bitter person is full of poison and is toxic like picric, an explosion waiting to happen!
Bitterness to oneself
The last form of bitterness expresses inwardly, toward self. Some people see themselves as ugly, sinful, and disgusting. They have committed crimes against God and man, and simply cannot forgive themselves.
They feel as though God could never forgive them for the things they have done. I have encountered many a person with this affliction; when asked; they often say something like; “I hope God will forgive me.” They have not yet believed that God could, or would forgive them.
For this person, God’s forgiveness is just a bridge too far. Many times this person will do works for God, hoping somehow to earn His forgiveness and love!
Bitterness of heart settles in, and in the end, without forgiveness received, the person’s eternal life is lost; a sad end indeed.
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Bitterness will defile many if left unchecked and if you are reading this today, and you know you have the symptoms of bitterness; then let’s get healed of this disease today!
How to Get Free of Bitterness Once and For All
Overcoming Bitterness Toward God
To get started, we deal with bitterness toward God. The first step is to realize that we live in a fallen world; a world full of sin and destruction.
Remember, bad things happen to good people, and just because we are Christians, does not exempt us from the brokenness of this broken world.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
While there will be pain and suffering in this world, God is working in ways we may not see clearly. In the midst of great pain and suffering, ask God to lead you, hold tight to His hand.
As you encounter painful experiences in this broken world, rather than despise God, ask Him if there is anything that can be discovered from this? Not that God instigated the pain, but rather, can God help you through this and help you learn something too, perhaps something to help another.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Many reading this have been through tremendous pain and suffering, yet you still love God! Could one of the blessings be that there is a way for you to comfort others who may be heading into a season of suffering?
Do not become bitter toward God, He is not your enemy, He is your salvation, trust Him, fall into His arms and love Him, let your bitterness toward Him dissolve!
Overcoming Bitterness Toward Others
Secondly, let’s deal with the bitterness toward others. Remember to make your anger temporary; recall Ephesians 4:26 “. . . do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
Do not allow your anger to cause you to sin; make up your mind you will not do it!
Forgive and forget! Now I know this sounds simplistic, but it works. For someone reading this today, you have kept a running list of every hurt, every offense, and you have learned to nurse them; holding them dear, not realizing that the very thing you clutch to your heart is killing you and is a contagion to those around you!
First, forgive them. That means letting go of the right to retaliate! Give the outcome to God; let Him be the Judge, and the One who has the final say. In your forgiveness, be sure to get rid of all malice, give it up!
Stop wishing harm to those who harm you, stop it!
Once you have made up your mind to forgive; then forget. By forget I mean that you will never bring up the offense again.
A man was meeting with a marriage counselor and he said; “please help me, my wife is historical, she’s absolutely historical!” The doctor said; “Don’t you mean she is hysterical?” “No,” the man replied; “she is historical and is always bringing up the past.”
We will not forget the incident, and the scar may last for a lifetime, but when we forgive, we leave it alone and determine not to bring it back up.
One more thought on this; if you are in an abusive relationship and you have within your power the freedom to leave, then do so; God calls us to live in peace.
I have known people who feel it is their duty to live in an abusive relationship, to suffer great pain and humiliation, only to end up bitter, resentful and lost; this is not God’s plan.
It is one thing to suffer for Christ and quite another to suffer for man; you must discern between the two, and make a decision.
Overcoming Bitterness Toward Oneself
Finally, let’s deal with bitterness toward oneself. To tackle this one, you need to believe God’s Word. If you do, then there is real hope, if you do not, then you will suffer a long life of bitterness and die without Christ.
Those who suffer bitterness toward themselves often wallow in self-pity. Many, who struggle in this way, have what we often refer to as a besetting sin, the one thing that always trips them up! They tend to live in a cycle of sin and self abasement.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Remember that God has provided everything you need for salvation, including the gift of forgiveness. If you have sinned, then confess it to God, tell Him about it! Once you do, then forgiveness comes, it’s over, and He will remember it no more.
Avoid not forgiving yourself, this makes you become as God in your life. Are you stronger, wiser and more powerful than God? I don’t think so! Let it go!
So, let’s get rid of all bitterness today! Make this the first day of a life without bitterness.
For those of you who have experienced bitterness of soul, this is not easy; it will cause tears and great pain. Bitterness has been part of your life, and living without it will be a frightful thing at first.
However, to live with it, will cost you your soul, because there will not be one bitter soul in heaven and if you do not deal with it here, you don’t get to go there!
Time to cast bitterness into the sea
For some of you, you have accumulated a mountain of hurt, so much pain and suffering! You have carried it for years and years; it is time to bring it to God.
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
It is time to cast off the mountain of bitterness; when you, by faith, release this burden to the Lord, He will cast it away into the sea, and sweet water will begin flowing into your soul!
You Have Been Seated with Christ in the Heavenly Realms
God’s great hope for us is not simply the forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven when we die; but rather, He wants us totally restored, in heart, mind and soul . . . NOW!
As we enter into this amazing adventure with God, we soon recognize that we are a part of something tremendous, something that is beyond our earthy perspective, and we are transported into the heavens with Christ; we live, breathe, and find our being in Him!
This Bible study will help you rediscover how it all began, what happened in the Garden of Eden, who is the Devil really, and what is he up to today.
Head into the heavenly realms and discover profound truths concerning your relationship with God, and His incredible plan for you.
Search your heart, preparing for a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this study, you will enter into God’s armory, suiting up with the whole armor of God.
Discover the Keys to the Kingdom given to you, and learn what they unlock; discovering your true nature in Christ, the authority given, the Sword of the Spirit, the covering armor, and the mission ahead, you will truly learn to pray . . . Upside Down!
