The shield of the Roman soldier was long and rectangular in shape…and almost as tall as he was. Its protection was superb, and when groups of soldiers closed ranks, fit the shields together, and advanced as one, the line was impenetrable. They would also hold the shields overhead, forming a circle of protection from arrows flying down from enemy walls above. Our saving faith…that firm and confident belief in Jesus and His Gospel covers us with complete protection from the devil. And when the Body of Believers band together with our shields of faith…we are unstoppable…we are victorious.
Tag: family of god
Hebrews 3:6 ” But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.”
It is a special exercise of our faith when we face fear and doubt head on. At that moment, we need to hold fast to the truth with confidence and boldness that no matter what – God is still there and in control.
Romans 5:5 ” And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us.”
The hope we have is because of the Lord’s great love for us. No disappointment is too big…no challenge too great, that His love can’t overcome. This hope we possess has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is continually encouraging us to not give up.
I Timothy 2: 9-10 ” I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”
These verses tell us that we shouldn’t be calling attention to ourselves by our outward appearances…but rather the emphasis should be on holy living and good works. This was really brought to life years ago at a Church we were attending. The members dressed very nicely…to the point it was almost a style show every Sunday. But one Sunday the Pastor stood at the pulpit and rebuked the entire congregation with this story. A family had visited the Church for the first time and had enjoyed the service but they felt they couldn’t come back…because they didn’t have nice clothes to wear and felt embarrassed. Our Pastor admonished us all and then wondered out loud just how many other visitors might have felt the same way. He then requested that we seriously reconsider how we dressed for Church.
Hebrews 13: 20-21 ” May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. “
Everything you need to live a victorious, righteous life…every detail, every means of accomplishment, every plan and procedure, the Lord has not only prepared, but also provided for you. He is constantly working in our lives to bring out the very best in us. The Lord desires you to succeed…and He equips you with everything to do so.
Jeremiah 23: 28 ” Let the (false) prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has My word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain? “
This Scripture speaks to what is truth, and what is false…it speaks to God’s divinely ordained Word, and the corrupted half-truths that come from the pit of hell. The bottom line for us is…do we want to be filled with the “fruit” of His Word, or the useless stubble left behind?
Acts 18: 9-10 ” One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; Keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’ “
After this revelation, Paul boldly stayed in Corinth for almost 2 years preaching and teaching the Word of God. Even when the Jews attempted to bring Paul before the Proconsul, Gallio, he refused to listen to the case. Proverbs 16:7 states, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies live at peace with him.” The very safest place to be is in the center of God’s Will.
John 9: 35-38 ” Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when He found him, He said, ‘Do you believe in the Son Of Man?’ ‘Who is He, Sir?’ the man asked. ‘Tell me so that I may believe in Him!’ Jesus said, ‘You have now seen Him; in fact He is the one speaking with you.’ Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshiped Him. “
The beggar had been born blind, but Jesus had healed him of his physical blindness. But now we find Jesus seeking out the beggar again to offer him something far more important… something with eternal consequences. Jesus was asking the man to put his faith and trust in Him, and thus to be then healed of his spiritual blindness.
Lamentations 5: 19 ” You, O Lord, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation.”
Over the course of time, kingdoms rise and fall. Mighty Rulers are in power, and then fade from history. But God’s all-powerful throne is established forever, His Kingdom permanently fixed and rooted from everlasting to everlasting.
I Corinthians 15: 10 ” But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect…”
Every time you discount the work of the Lord in your life…every time you treat with insignificance the miraculous things He’s done in and through you…you are maligning God. In effect you’re saying to the Lord, ” Your unearned favor towards me means nothing .” So today, think about just how far the Lord has brought you, and then thank Him…for you are who you are today because of Him.
Safetypinlove 