The Garden of Gethsemane

 

    The Lord's Table is a where we go to remember what happened to Jesus on the cross.  It started with the Passover dinner and ended with victory over death, but the middle was horrible.  Jesus who never sinned died in a way that was kept for the worst criminals.  It was brutal and it lasted for hours, but it was his choice.  He chose obedience to God and love for you over his own comfort.

    Today you get to partake in the Lord's supper because Jesus gave you the way to calvary.   It is the best kept secret because it is so obvious.  You only have to believe, repent, and follow Jesus.  Salvation is easy, following Jesus requires giving up comfort.  

    Jesus had a great last meal with a lot of meaning and unseen impact with his apostles.  After dinner the 11 that remained went on a walk with Jesus.  Judas had already left to betray Jesus.  Jesus knew what he was up to, but the apostles never suspected their friend of deceit.  They went for a walk in the Garden of Gethsemane.  This Garden now represents the quiet place you go to pray.  Jesus prayed for strength, resist temptation, and for a change of plan.  Then he accepted what needed to be done and faced it.

    This walk in the garden was him facing what was about to happen.  He needed strength and time with God, so he went to be alone to pray.  The apostles were near and were to keep watch and pray.  The only difference is that they were not away of the urgency, so they kept falling asleep.  It was late and they had full bellies.  The excitement was over and their bodies were relaxing.  However, Jesus did know.  He knew the temptations they would be facing in the next few hours.

    Jesus was in anguish.  He did not want to endure what he knew he had to face.  He prayed so fervently that his sweat had blood in it.  He knew he had to face it alone.  He knew that his friends would scatter to save their own lives.  He knew Peter would deny him, but he was willing to face it to be obedient to God.  It is the ultimate act of love.  He also forgave the 11 before it happened because it didn't come from a place of evil, but fear.  In the end they would all turn to him in faith.  Judas was cursed because he rejected Jesus' authority.

Matthew 10:37-39, 26:36-46, Luke 9:23-27, 22:14-46, 1 Corinthians 1:18-19, & Colossians 2:11-14

Invitation to God's Table

 

    God's Table represents salvation, fellowship, and grace given to those who accept the invitation to come to His table for communion.  It is facing Jesus at the table that you come to spiritual truth.  It is where you go when you are ready to get spiritually fed.  It means you have accepted the truth and are willing to do make the changes in your life to follow Jesus.

    Everyone is invited to come to God's table, but only a few accept the invitation.  It has always been your choice to accept the invitation of salvation.  It is your choice to believe the truth and accept redemption.  It is your choice to turn from your sins to follow Jesus.  

    When you do you become a part of God's family.  You are a part of His church even if you do not go to church.  You need to be with other believers who follow Jesus to become strong, have communion, and celebrate the Lord's Supper in remembrance of Jesus's sacrifice.  It is coming together at God's Table where you find spiritual nourishment.  

    Come to God's table prepared to celebrate pure love.  You need to fear God to love him properly.  It is not human driven fear. It is the kind of fear that is aware of what God could do, but holds back. It is knowing what is promised to come and knowing it will happen one day.  It is fear based on respect for God and the power He holds.  

    It cost you nothing to get the invitation to God's Table.  It is a blessing to be accept the invitation.  Salvation is free to anyone who wants it.  It is walking in faith that will cost you.  You get to come sit and eat at God's table for free.  When you leave the table to follow Jesus you will be ready to go out in obedience.  You trust God to handle the conflicts in the world, but you are prepared to do your part to make the world ready for Jesus' return.  

Psalm 23, Matthew 22:1-14, Luke 14:15-24, John 6:35-40, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, & Revelations 3:20-22

Lord's Table

 

    God has always made the boundaries and expectation clear for His people.  He gives you every opportunity to have a close relationship with Him.  It is the kind of relationship that can fill every void.  It provides safety, security, and love.  He also teaches how to live life with Him in the good and bad times.  

    Jesus is real.  He made everything you want and need real.  He is the only way to God.  He is the one that teaches you how to have a real relationship with God.  He brings you to God's table and tells you to partake.  It is sacred, but you get to be a part of it as a child of God.  If you are not a child of God, then do not come to the table until your relationship with God has been made right or you bring judgment upon yourself.

    Coming to the table implies that you are ready to face God.  It means you are humble enough to declare that you need Him.  It is a time to remember what Jesus did for you, but also what he is doing for you now.  Remember the purpose of it all so that you focus on the eternal instead of the right now distractions.  Looking back is humbling.  Looking forward prepares you for what is to come.  

    The Lord's Table is meant to be preparation. It is where you go to face yourself in comparison to Jesus.  Do you keep yourself pure and holy?  You live a clean lifestyle to be pleasing to God not virtuous to the world.  God wants His children to be righteous.  The Holy Spirit is with you to help you stay worthy to be in God's presence.  You are blessed to be invited to sit at the Lord's Table.

Matthew 1:23, 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-20, 1 Corinthians 10:14-22, 11:23-30, Colossians 2:16-19, & Revelations 19:6-9

The Last Supper

 

    It is Thursday in Holy Week.  Jesus and his apostles have had a great week so far.  They were relaxing and having dinner.  Jesus' apostles were completely unaware that in a matter of hours the great week would turn into a nightmare.  

    Jerusalem was celebrating the liberation from Egypt (Passover).  The lamb was the central animal of the celebration since the Hebrews had sacrificed a lamb and put it's blood on the door frames, so the angel of death would pass over their homes.  The lamb had to die to protect God's people.  The irony is Jesus became that pure white lamb.  He is the only one worthy or capable of being the sacrifice to give you the opportunity to be saved from the chains of sin and all it's consequences.

    Jesus and his apostles were in a home celebrating the Passover meal which is now called the Last Supper.  There is so much significance in it.  It was not an accident that Jesus chose that night to do something new and revolutionary to change religious culture.  He took the bread and had it represent his body.  He took the wine and had it represent his blood.  Together it represents fulfillment and the new covenant being made with God.

    If you believe in Jesus, proclaim your faith, repent from your sins, and start following Jesus then you are what we call today a Christian.  The name back then was "The Way".  Christian was a slanderous word applied to believers of "The Way" and they took as a badge of honor changing the title for God's children.

    The point of the Lords Supper is the same as the Passover.  It is to be done in remembrance of Jesus' sacrifice.  It is a reminder to rid yourself of sin and follow Jesus purely.  It is a reminder of what Jesus endured so you could have freedom.  It is a sacred assembly that remembers the covenant God made and Jesus paid out of love.  It is not just a ritual.  It hold great meaning and purpose.

Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-30, John 1:29-34, 15:1-8, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, & 1 John 1:1-7

Jesus' Sacrifice

 

    Jesus came into this world knowing the purpose.  He lived a fully human life.  He made close relationships.  He got hungry and thirsty.  He got tired.  He needed time alone and time with people.  He experienced life like everyone else except the fact that He was God.  He came out of love to be the last sacrifice.  He is the only worthy sacrifice.  

    Jesus tried to prepare his apostles several times for what would happen to him without being too graphic.  He knew what he was walking into and did it willingly.  He final act to prepare them for his departure was the Last Supper or Lord's Table.  

    It is the love behind Jesus' sacrifice that is so powerful in your life.  His love stirs passion within you to face or do anything to be closer to Him.  His love provides unity with other followers.  Unity in Jesus provides fellowship.  Together you draw each other closer to Jesus.

    If you are a Christian, then you have the Holy Spirit living within you.  When you are with other people who walk in faith the Holy Spirit works within you to connect you and empower you to produce fruit.  He gives you a calm to face the unknown.  He gives you what you need to fulfill your part of the Great Commission.  

    Jesus is the sacrifice that provides you the opportunity to have salvation.  He was wounded, so you can see the truth.  He gave all of himself so you can have a relationship with God.  If you accept the gift of salvation, then it should change your life.  You should be compelled to live differently.  Knowing the truth should have you turn from your personal wickedness to a life of personal loving service for Jesus.    

Isaiah 53:4-6, Mark 10:41-45, Romans 5:6-11, 2 Corinthians 5:11--15, Hebrews 9:27-28, & Revelations 5:11-12

God's Sacrifice

 

    In the Christian world we talk about Jesus' sacrifice that provides you the opportunity to have a relationship with God, but do you ever hear about the sacrifice that God made.  God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are eternal.  They have always been together.  However, when God sent Jesus into this world to live a human life, He was separated from His son in a way.  He had to watch His son suffer because of His love for you.

    If you accept the gift of salvation, then you are most blessed.  You do not need a priest of anyone to intercede for you.  You have a direct line to God through prayer and time in His Word.  He is not indifferent to you.  He does not forget about you.  His love is faithful even if you may get distracted.  

    God's love enriches your life by becoming His adopted child.  You get to have a real relationship with your creator.  The sacrifice that He made so you are able to experience this reveals the depths of His love.  He got Jesus back, but nothing will ever erase that time of separation or what it signifies.  His sacrifice enables you to be restored from your sins.  It enabled a new covenant between man and God.

    God's sacrifice allows you to have fellowship with God.  You get to celebrate this fellowship and worship by coming together with other followers of Jesus at the Lord's table.  Different denominations call it different things, but it is the Lord's Supper, Communion, or Eucharist.  It is important that you partake in an honorable manner to respect the sacrifice made for your salvation.

    You need to respond to the sacrifice made for you.  You may reject it and will face the consequences one day.  You may live a sacrificial lifestyle.  It may drive you to service.  Basically you accept God's gift and it changes your life forever.  You come to the table in remembrance and to make sure you stay in a state of putting God first.  It all start with believing, committing, praying, and living out your faith.  

Leviticus 23:5-32, John 3:16-17, Romans 5:6-11, Hebrews 10:8-10, 1 Peter 2:21-25, & 1 John 4:9-10

How to use God's Word

 

    The Bible is the sword of the spirit.  It is God's Word.  It is a powerful offensive weapon in spiritual warfare.  You use God's Word as the sword when you read with focus and purpose, memorize scriptures, and learn the context for the scriptures.  Pray over the scriptures you read and how to use them in conversation.

    Satan knows God's Word.  He knows how to twist and manipulate them to steer people away from God.  You have to pray for the truth as you read.  It may require you going back and forth, but do not rely on other people's opinions or judgments.  They could be wrong and it could cost you not to find the truth.

    You God's Word to learn God's Character and how to follow Jesus.  The more you lean into the truth the less likely you will be confused, be tempted, or sin.  You are more likely to to find manipulation and lies offensive.  Memorizing and praying over scriptures will help you with anxiety and feeling overwhelmed by the world.

    The power of the sword should affect you and not only be a weapon for your enemies.  It should pierce your heart when you allow sin into your life.  It should be a form of correction, repentance, and facing reality.  It exposes false beliefs.  It should change your heart to love in a way that you want to the world to know Jesus and find salvation too.  It should give you strength to do what is right over what is easy.  It helps you live out your salvation.  

Joshua 1:6-9, Psalm 23, 61:1-4, 119:9-16, Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 4:1-11, Ephesians 6:10-18, Philippians 4:6-7, & Hebrews 4:12-13

God's Word Application

 

    The sword of the spirit is application of God's Word everyday.  When you are reading God's Word you pray for the Holy Spirit to draw you closer, reveal truth, and guidance over what you read today.  This is how God's character is revealed to you.  You start to understand His love, wisdom, how to identify sin, avoid temptation, understand truth, and reliance on God.  

    When you are done with your alone time with God, then you should be ready to face the world.  You have what you need to practice being more like Jesus, overcome temptation, apply discernment and wisdom in action or words, and be a powerful agent for the Holy Spirit.  You want to be in the Bible everyday to renew your mind, but also to become bold.  You will never feel like you know enough, but you can stand by your convictions when you understand how to be a witness.

    You will face challenges today.  You will face them with God or pushing Him out of the way.  You will face it, but you can do so with confidence that you faced it well with God.  The Holy Spirit has given you spiritual gifts, use them to be bold in serving God and facing challenges without sinning.  It takes work to live in peace.  You need God's Word to understand how to apply the full armor of God to face the true battle which is invisible.

John 14:23-26, Acts 1:7-8, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 5:16-23, Ephesians 6:10-18, & Hebrews 4:12-13

Sword of the Spirit Lifestyle

 

    For the sword of the spirit to become a part of your lifestyle you have to invest into your relationship with God.  The spirit led lifestyle includes surrendering your personal stuff to God daily, renewing your mind in His Word, and being led by the Holy Spirit.  If you ever question if you are walking with God, then all you have to do is turn to the Bible and compare how you live to what He says on the subject.  

    Your sword becomes an offensive weapon as you mature in your walk with God.  You learn, start having discussions, and then teach what you are learning.  When things get challenging and hard to understand you lean into God in faith, trust, and prayer for the truth.      

    The spirit lifestyle is when your time in the Bible becomes a strategy to get to know God better.  You use it to defend your faith when needed, but that is never the primary purpose.  You are being intentional about your relationship with God and securing your spiritual armor because you know an attack will come.  It is only a matter of when and how. 

    Allow the Bible to enlighten, encourage, and empower you.  Your virtue, worth, and existence come from God.  Never forget how loved and wanted you are.  The Bible and the Holy Spirit builds your confidence and purpose in this world.  Allow your worship display the sword in your hand.  Live your life in this manner to produce holy fruit.  

John 4:21-24, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 5:16-26, Ephesians 3:14-19, 6:10-18, & 2 Timothy1:5-7

Spiritual Protection

 

    The full armor of God is the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit.  They are all defensive, except the sword which is offensive.  It is using the bible to call sin for what it is: sin.  It is to be accountable, hold onto integrity, and uphold morals given by the Holy Spirit.  

    The Bible deals with you and your personal battle with Satan.  You use it with other people to teach, correct, or disciple.  It works as well as you are committed to it.  As you embrace your identity in Jesus you are able to size up your enemy.  He is powerful, but not as powerful as God.  The Bible gives you the beginning, life, and the end.  He provides boundaries and makes life worth living.  You find all you need in the Bible.

    You find protection in the Bible as you learn it.  The more you know the better you can pray.  Pray over scripture that you are reading to seek true understand of who God is, context, and how to apply it to your life.  Go to your Bible everyday and over time you will see a difference.  Challenge yourself to dig deeper.  Challenge how you think, view the Bible, and read it critically to make sure you do not get stuck on biases or human teachings.

    The Bible will prepare you for spiritual warfare, facing temptation, and revealing Satan's lies.  When you read the Bible, pray over what you read, meditate on it, and work at memorizing scripture you are fortifying yourself for battle.  You know you can be victorious because God has given you all that you need to win over temptation, fear, doubt, or anxiety.  The more you see the truth the more you see Satan for who he is.  The more you get to know God the more you trust Him.  

Psalm 91:1-8, 119:105-112, Matthew 4:1-11, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, Ephesians 6:10-18, & Hebrews 4:12-13, 6:16-20

Sword of the Spirit

 

    The sword of the Spirit is God's Word.  It is a double edge sword that separates sinner from saint, conviction from contempt, sin from righteousness.  It is your primary offensive weapon in spiritual warfare.  God's Word is where you find the truth.  It exposes your true heart and soul.  It holds you accountable to God.

    When you are going through a trial, then it is God's Word that shows you the way.  When Satan is feeding you lies it is God's Word that gives you the truth.  Pray faithfully and you will find what you are looking for in the Bible.  

    God's Word has the power to give your soul life.  It gives you the power to stand firm in your faith and defend what you believe.  It cuts, but it is a clean cut.  The cuts are meant to reveal truth not kill.  It is better to have scars than to loose your soul.  Use God's Word to honor His name.   Do not use God's Word to be the winner of every battle because that is pride not faith.

    When you are being tempted you are able to use the scripture you have learned to send Satan away.  The Bible empowers you to have what you need to avoid, flee, or escape sin.  God will open ways that did not exist to protect you.  Satan knows scripture too, but he twist and manipulates it to serve His purpose.  You have to learn it in context and to know God better.  The closer you get to God the more it makes sense.

    If you are a Christian, then your body is the temple that the Holy Spirit lives within.  You use the Bible to keep yourself holy.  The Bible is a weapon, guide, boundary setter, and love letter.  It gives you what you need when you need it as long as you trust the Holy Spirit.  

    When you use the sword use it in prayer.  The Holy Spirit will guide your words, but never speak without praying over it first.  Be persistent and alert to know how best pray and use the sword.  Be humble and confident in your use of God's Word.  Be self-disciplined enough to use God's Word to do good.  Do not abuse the power that God has provided you or you will pay the price.

Isaiah 55:10-13, Matthew 4:1-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:15-17, Ephesians 6:13-18, 2 Timothy 1:5-7, 3:14-17, Hebrews 4:12-13

How to use Salvation

 

    You you use your salvation in spiritual warfare will depend on how victorious you will be.  Salvation is a one time event where you embrace the truth about Jesus, believe it, and start applying it to your life.  The helmet of salvation is put on every day when you choose to follow Jesus wherever he leads.  You use the helmet to protect your mind against Satan's attacks.

    You have to be a Christian to be able to have the helmet of salvation.  You start to use the helmet in prayer.  Your prayer life has a direct correlation on how well the helmet protects your mind.  You use prayer when you are in God's Word to build that relationship with God.

    Use prayer to discover the strongholds that Satan has over your mind and how to remove them.  Use prayer to identify where you are allowing negativity into your heart.  Use prayer to know how God wants you to fight in spiritual warfare.  Use God's Word to know what God expects from you.  Apply God's Word with prayer to know where you need to strengthen your thinking, attitude, and heart resolve to do good instead of evil in the world.

    Satan will take advantage of any opportunity he gets to mess with you, so make sure you protect your mind.  Take care of your armor to make sure you are being protected.  Your value is found in Jesus.  No other opinion matters.  If you believe Satan's lies, then you cripple yourself, but he doesn't have the power to take you out.  Seek God's approval and your mind will be fortified with love, faith, kindness, and mercy.  Walk with God and there is no room for insecurities.  

Acts 4:8-12, Romans 6:21-25, Ephesians 2:8-10, 6:13-17, & Philippians 2:12-13

Salvation Application

 

    The Helmet of Salvation is based on reality that Jesus took your sins upon himself to make you righteous.  The truth is you only have to believe that and start following Jesus to have salvation.  The truth changes everything.  The truth declares your identity as a child of God.  To have salvation means you are a Christian.

    You have to believe that you are a part of Jesus' family to be able to embrace the power and authority that comes with that position.  It is a position of service not leisure, but it also comes with great responsibility and love.  It makes you an ambassador for God.  It also makes you a citizen of Heaven.  Remember that and Satan can't cripple you mentally or emotionally with doubt or fear.  

    Knowing the truth makes you strong with confidence that nothing can destroy you because God is fighting for you.  The what ifs go out the door because God is in control.  If it happens, then He allowed it for a good purpose.  You will never understand everything, but that is why it is called faith.  

    God handcrafted you personally.  He put you together in your mother's womb.  You are precious to Him and He make you for a purpose.  You never have to doubt that you are worthwhile, valuable, or loved.  You are not a mistake, flawed beyond repair, or unforgivable.  Put on the Helmet of Salvation and embrace the truth that will protect you from Satan's lies.

    The application of your salvation is putting on the helmet to embrace the truth that your identity is grounded in Jesus.  When you apply the truth it will renew your mind to embrace your inheritance as a child of God.  Your salvation is a weapon against Satan if you figure out how to use it to fortify your mind with truth instead of lies.  Salvation gives you the power to break and destroy strongholds to become complete in Jesus.

    Salvation is powerful that is why it makes you an enemy of Satan.  It puts you in spiritual warfare.  It requires you to be vigilant in your relationship with God.  Use scripture to encourage and help you implement the truth into your life every day.  

    You don't get to relax when you are in spiritual warfare.  All you can do is prepare, endure, and fight with God.  You need to know your identity in Christ, so you can live victoriously.  Your salvation is not about comfort but instead being in the position that God designed for you to be close to Him to fulfill His plan for your life.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Psalm 139:1-18, Romans 1:16-17, 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, Ephesians 2:4-10, 6:13-17, Colossians 3:1-4, 1 Peter 1:8-9, 5:8-9, & Revelations 7:9-10

Salvation Lifestyle

 

    The helmet of salvation is a critical piece of the armor.  It protects your mind as you go live life in the world.  There is no reason to go out unprotected.  Use your Bible and prayer to use your mind for spiritual warfare.  You have a mind that can focus on what God has done, is doing, and promised to do or you can focus on the attack and be weakened.  It is your choice on how useful your salvation is to your lifestyle.

    Salvation should build your confidence because God is telling you that you are a part of His family now.  Jesus paid for your helmet, so all you have to do it put it on and use it.  Using the helmet of salvation in your lifestyle is fighting negative thoughts or doubts with God's truth.  When you feel unworthy, unloved, incapable, unwanted, unforgiveable, invisible, insignificant, or lost then remember what God has already declared over you.  God says you are holy, blameless, cherished, wanted, forgiven, seen, have purpose, chosen, and eternal.  

    Live out your salvation in boldness and courage because you know God is protecting you.  Take strength in God's promises, so Satan can't tear you down.  Speak truth to your mind and you will live a fuller life.  Allow Satan's toxicity into your mind and you limit what your life can be.  How you think affects your body and lifestyle.  The helmet of salvation can transform your mind to see God more clearly enabling a powerful life.

    Satan can't make you do anything, but he has the power to influence you.  You have the power to reject him and send him away in the name of Jesus.  The more you allow the victim mentality the more deficient your life becomes.  The more take responsibility and accountability over your life the more you can see the truth.  God can remove your doubt, fear, insecurity, spiraling thoughts, and victim mentality to replace them with life, love, joy, kindness, and faith.

    You have to take responsibility to dismantle the negative thought patterns and put in the work to change how you think.  The Holy Spirit is there to lead the way, but you have to put in the work to remove all mental strongholds.  You do this by replacing the lie with the truth.  You may have to repeat it over and over until it really sinks in, but it is done by taking every thought captive to be holy.  As you choose the way you think everyday it become your lifestyle.  God's truth is meant to be lived, a part of your life, and strong enough to cut away the lies.  The truth allows you to live in freedom.

Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, Ephesians 1:3-14, 2:1-10, 6:13-17, & Philippians 4:8-9

Salvation Strategy

 

    The helmet of salvation protects your mind from Satan.  It's function is to remind you who you belong to and what your inheritance.  The strategy of salvation in spiritual warfare is for you not fall for Satan's lies.  It was gift that you did not earn and are not worthy to have, but it makes you a child of God.  You are inheriting eternity with Him.  Satan can't take that away, but he can mess with your mind if you are not prepared for his attacks.

    When you become a Christian you become an inheritor of heaven.  There is plenty of room and grandeur, so sharing it with thousands of other Christians doesn't hurt your inheritance at all.  You get the full love of God as His adopted child.  His love redeems you when you accept His offer to be a part of His family and walk through life with Jesus.  Jesus leads to way in how to accept your inheritance while you are still living.

    Your strategy using salvation is to keep your mind on the eternal and not be brought down by the world's problems.  Knowing your salvation is eternal is enough to keep you from being crippled by a head blow from Satan.  He can mess with your mind, but he can't destroy it.  Your protection comes from your mindset about salvation, your lifestyle in how you live out your salvation, and choices that you make.

    Your will face spiritual battle.  It will be intense at times, but you can face your enemy.  You have God fighting for you, so who can possibly destroy you?  No one and nothing.  Your salvation protects your mind.  You are highly valued to God.  You are Jesus' representation in the world.  Your are strong with the Holy Spirit.  This means that Satan will attack you to hurt God.  Do not leave your mind exposed to him.  An unprotected mind will go through hell.  Your mind is important and if hurt it can take a long time to be healed.

    Satan's strategy is to aim for the weak points or exposed areas.  Keep your helmet on firmly where it can't shift by you losing focus or doubting that your salvation will do what God promised it would do.  Use your helmet as comprehensive coverage.  You know you have it.  Build up your faith, so that you never doubt it is protecting your mind.  Doubt leaves you weak and vulnerable for attack.  Satan still can't destroy you, but he can hurt you if your helmet is not securely protecting you.  

    Your mind is your control center.  You can be a Christian, but not utilizing your salvation to protect your biggest asset in life, your mind.  When you work with the Holy Spirit then the mind is healthy and strategic.  It can see Satan's attacks coming and prepare.  A healthy mind protects your emotions and enables to you to behave Christlike.  

    If Satan gets a few good blows in, then your mind becomes toxic and needs healing.  He is poison to interrupts discernment, wisdom, and ability to grow well with Jesus.  If you believe Satan's lies, then you hurt the way you think and weaken the power of your salvation.  You have to pray to see the truth and how to remove the poison from your mind.  Place your salvation securely in your mind to keep from being vulnerable to Satan's attacks.  Have everything you do be done with purpose.

Job 1:20-22, Luke 6:43-45, Romans 8:15-25, 1 Corinthians 4:18-21, 9:24-27, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Ephesians 1:9-14, 6:13-17, Hebrews 6:13-20, 8:7-13, & 1 Peter 1:13-16

Helmet of Salvation

 

    The helmet of salvation protects your mind.  It allows you to hold onto the promises of God when in spiritual warfare.  When Satan tells you you are unloved, unwanted, unneeded, then you have your salvation to remind you that God loves you, wants you, and has given you a purpose personalized for you.  It is your salvation that battles and  can destroy the strongholds that allows Satan access to your mind.  

    Salvation is what allows you to have eternity in heaven, but it is meant to be lived out now.  Live like a victorious child of God because that is who you are.  The helmet of salvation works on your mind as you spend time in God's Word and pray.  It transforms it into a strategic weapon against the enemy and provides the wisdom to know not to fight him on your own.  Allow the light of God keep you clearheaded and confident in your salvation.

    Salvation is what gives your life hope to live a full life without regret.  Salvation is your redemption, protection, and restoration.  You are able to live in hope because you are justified with God.  Jesus paid for your sins and now you can live free from guilt.  You now sanctified which gives you control over your sinful nature.  

    As you learn God's voice you can hear Satan's lies more clearly.  His lies align with God's truth, but twist them to manipulate you into falling for his plan for you.  God helps you see the lies for what they are and the Holy Spirit helps you avoid falling into Satan's traps.  If you walk with Jesus then you can have an abundant life in light that reveals truth.  

    The helmet of salvation is your defense against Satan and his dark forces.  It shields your mind from his attacks.  It protects your mind from his schemes.  Salvation keeps you from being as vulnerable to Satan's manipulations, but you do have to learn how to use it in life and not just hold onto it for the afterlife.  Use what you know and grow in your relationship with God to become more confident and bold for spiritual warfare.  

Isaiah 59:16-19, Romans 5:6-11, 8:18-25, 12:1-2, Galatians 5:1, Ephesians 6:13-17, Philippians 2:12-13, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8, & James 1:19-21

How to use Faith

 

    Faith is trusting God in real time.  It is an action plan that keeps you in step with Jesus.  You listen to the directions of the Holy Spirit and move in confidence.  You start with building daily habits that grow you closer to God.

    You use your faith by spending time in God's word to know what His standards are.  You find a quiet place to pray over what you are reading and what is happening in your life.  Then you meditate while you wait to listen to how the Holy Spirit responds or look for how God has answered your prayers.  You step out into the world thinking about what you studied and how to use it personally today.  Your faith is built up over time.

    When life gets challenging speak God's truth to yourself, but also out loud.  It is a part of your testimony.  It makes you strong.  Sometimes you are doing it in a prayer.  This is good.  It gives your prayer power.  The more you trust God the more powerful your words and actions will have in the world around you.

    When you read God's Word replace all the pronouns with me and I.  It personalizes the Bible for you to be aware that it was written for you and not just people from long ago.  Use whatever method that works for you to memorize Bible versus and focus on their context so that you do not misuse them later.  

    Speak God's truth and promises out loud so that they are enforced in how you believe in God.  When you pray over scriptures it also helps take away the fear, anxiety, and worry the world gave you with faith.  You are not as stuck as you may think.  You do have options that can make you confident to live in this world with no regrets or shame.

    God is loyal, faithful, creator, and miracle worker.  He can be trusted.  Write down or record His promises as you come across them.  Use His promises as your shield of faith.  The will diffuse whatever lies Satan is throwing at you.  God loves you and is with you.  He will not leave you to fight alone.

Deuteronomy 7:7-11, Psalms 118:5-9, Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 41:8-10, Romans 8:26-30, 10:16-18, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, Ephesians 6:13-16, & Hebrews 10:23-25

Faith Application

 

    You apply faith onto your armor of God when you believe that what God says and does is true.  It is simple, but it takes practice.  Demons believe, but do not follow Jesus.  You have to believe and follow Jesus to have the protection of faith.  It is not words.  Faith applied to your life is choosing to act on the truth daily.

    God is  truth.  When you walk in faith in His truth you embrace the power that He provides in protection for yourself and the church.  Walking in faith helps you recover from disappointment.  You have the ability to see setbacks as building blocks or protection.  Your perception changes in a way that gives you life instead of draining you. 

    Applying faith every day is using your feelings, but not allowing your feelings to control you.  They are indicators to help you with direction, but they were never meant to be your driving force.  That power belongs to God.  When you allow feelings to lead you will get yourself in kinds of trouble.  If you use your feelings to pray for direction and perspective, then you move forward with a confident strategy.

    You need to know God's voice to be able to walk in faith.  That is why you have to put on the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, and shoes of peace first.  They prepare you to follow God's directions.  God's Word and character never change; however, the Holy Spirit personalized how you need to use it in your life.  You have to listen to Him to act wisely.  The Holy Spirit will convict, enlighten God's Word, guide, and lead you based on Biblical principles.

    To be a Christian is a privilege.  Anyone can have it, but only a few accept His gift of salvation and walking in faith.  A lifestyle of faith requires change from your old lifestyle.  You have to learn how to forgive, watch your words, choose gratitude over anxiety, be a part of the church, tithe, fast, pray, and submit to authority.  You have to flee from sexual immorality and watch over your relationships with discernment.  You have to believe that God is with you even when you don't feel Him.  Faithful obedience removes your fear, so you can be bold, strong, and courageous.  This is the truth that you live out in self-discipline, joy, and faith.  

Deuteronomy 31:4-6, Malachi 3:8-12, Matthew 4:1-2, Luke 5:1-11, John 10:25-30, 16:5-15, Romans 13:1-5, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 2 Corinthians 2:5-8, 6:14-18, Ephesians 4:28-29, 6:13-16, Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Timothy 1:5-7, Hebrews 10:23-25, & 1 John 2:26-27

Practicing Faith

 

     Practicing your faith is how you prepare for spiritual warfare.  You have to exercise and workout what you believe to be able to stand firm when it matters.  You have to know what the Bible says to be convicted to stand true to it.  You are investing your time and energy into your relationship with God.  This may cost you sleep, free time, or in some other way, but it makes you stronger in the long run.

    Faith is a commitment signed at salvation in the blood of Jesus and you admitting you need him.  You declaring your faith makes a statement of where you stand in the world and who you belong to.  It is the beginning of building your foundation in faith.  It goes deep and is strong.  You can be confident that it will hold up against any enemy if you do it God's way.  If you build it on your own without God it will crumble to dust.

    The shield of faith is heavy, but not nearly as heavy to fight the eternal battle without it.  It's barrier is your trust in God.  The more you pick it up the easier it becomes because your faith is getting stronger.  God will prove Himself consistent.  It is you that has to prove it to yourself to be faithful.  

    Your faith does not control God, but it gives you self-control and clarity in how God is directing you.  Faith simply gives you access to God.  He is the one in control.  You can get with His program or you can walk away and loose grace.  Having faith is about God, not you.  It is you submitting to His authority and trusting that it is right.  You become loyal to your eternal family.

    Your faith allows you to be in God's presence to know Him better.  The better you know Him the more you understand.  Change comes with understanding, but you are the one who changes not God.  Your faith becomes stronger with understanding that turns into wisdom.  It enables you to carry the weight of faith.  

    A key factor to faith is forgiveness.  The weight of faith becomes a lot easier to carry when you are able to forgive.  Bitterness, anger, and hatred are heavy loads that deplete your endurance and ability to love.  They will make it where you are unable to move forward or hold the shield of faith for any battle.  Forgiveness is essential to be able to carry the shield of faith.  Let go of grudges and hurt feelings to be strong.  It doesn't make you a pushover.  It makes you are warrior whom mind will not be muddled by negative feelings.  It helps you from succumbing to fear, doubt, or evil thoughts.

    You only need a little faith.  It goes a long way.  A little faith can move mountains, but you do have to believe.  Faith in God in all things is good faith.  When you are struggling to move forward you only need to lean on God more.  You don't need more faith you need more dependance.  Practicing your faith is practicing in changing your perspective on situations and who God is.  Challenge your focus to understand Jesus better.  This is how anything becomes possible.

Deuteronomy 7:7-11, Psalm 36:5-9, 100, Isaiah 25:1-3, Matthew 6:28-30, 8:26, 16:7-11, Luke 17:5-6, 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, Ephesians 2:8-10, 6:13-16, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, & 2 Timothy 2:11-13

Faith Strategy

 

    Faith is your action strategy for spiritual warfare.  It is your shield from Satan's fiery arrows.  When you enter into spiritual warfare it is a risk, but with a wise strategy, sound direction, and clarity it is a lot less risky than doing nothing.  You can be secure in your actions instead of acting impulsively.  

    When Satan is shooting his arrows, they are meant to kill your testimony, drive, or even your life.  If they hit and get past your armor then he causes doubt, insecurity, temptation, guilt, depression, and more things that steal your ability to live abundantly.  Every arrow that hits is a short win for Satan.  He knows your habits, attitude, how you think, fears, and weaknesses.  He will use what he knows to make a strategic plan.  He is not stupid, but he is not too creative either.  

    Satan's main strategy is to keep you busy, distracted, or confused.  All of these will keep you from serving God's plan for your life.  He will cause chaos in your life to try to keep you away from God.  Your Shield of faith is your defense against Satan.  Your strategy is to stay close to God and listen to the Holy Spirit.  You do this by spending time in God's Word and prayer.  

    The shield of faith has benefits which are found in God's Word.  You can find many of them in the hall of faith found in Hebrews 11.  The belt, breastplate, and shoes are on a Christian at all times even if you do not know how to use them well.  Faith on the other hand you can put down.  There are times in your life that your faith is stronger than other times.  It is not a linear timetable.  You have to choose to take up your faith for battle every day.

    Walking in faith is you being prepared for spiritual battle.  You walk with urgency and intention.  You choose to face the demonic attacks instead of trying to hide or ignore.  You push past your insecurities, doubt, and fear to walk with Jesus.  Walking with Jesus will make you bold, confident, and hopeful.  He is not intimidates, so when you are with him it is easier to feel courageous.  

    You may have to walk with Jesus for a while before you feel it, but after a few victories you see how powerful God is and it rubs off on you.  You also need to walk into battle with your fellow believers.  You are stronger together than when each trying to fight an army on your own.  The strategy is simple link shields in Bible study, walk out together, and place scripture on your shield to put out the fires.  Walk in confidence because you have God and other Christians fighting with you.  

    Alone you are easy to pick off.  At the same time if you do not join the fight you make God's army a little weaker.  He made it where we need each other for a reason.  You are stronger together.  You may not like everyone, but you can still be united.  

    Your faith strategy is choosing to believe in God's Word.  Then walk into the world prepared and confident that He is protecting you.  Walk in truth and ignores all of Satan's lies.  Trust in God's power over what may be visible in front of you. Trust in God's plan.

Proverbs 3:5-6, Ecclesiastes 4:4-12, Jeremiah 29:10-14, Mark 11:22-26, Romans 10:16-19, 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, Ephesians 2:1-10, 6:13-16, Philippians 4:10-14, Hebrews 11:7-31, & 1 John 5:1-5