PREPARING FOR YOUR SUCCESS
This is a world we are living in; we live not in by flesh only but by Spirit, for we walk by the Spirit. Battles of life are everywhere, wars are ever caused against us, persecutions rise up against us. But we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus our Lord who strengthens us.
Stand, ready for the attack, make plans before you wage a war. Pr 20:18 tells us, Make plans by seeking advice; with good advice make war. Luke 21:36 Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man. Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appreath? 1 Cor 10:12-13 Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (the NIV says that you may be able to stand up under it.
Rom 13; 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the Armour of light. Jer 46:3-4 "Prepare your shields, both large and small, and march out for battle! Harness the horses, mount the steeds! Take your positions with helmets on! Polish your spears, put on your armor! 1Cor 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; and Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Eph 6:10-18 be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
THE BELT OF TRUTH
Eph 6:14 fasten the belt around your waist. Isaiah 11:5righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins- with the Hand of God; he is girding up your loins to run faster than your competitors to the victory. 1Kings 18:46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezebel. The Hand of God is on you, for you to run faster to reach your destination.
Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. for the Christians are to be the demonstrators of truth. Worshipping too is done in truth. Jesus said in Jn 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Col 3:8-10 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 2 Thess 2:10(NIV)They perish because they refused to love truth, so be saved.
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Righteousness comes by faith in Christ. Philp 3:9 so the righteousness of God is based on Faith. Ex 28:15 and thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work, make it like an ephod Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. 1Kings 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? More on this read in Ps 94:15 but judgment shall return unto righteousness: and the entire upright in heart shall follow it. Pr 2:7-9
THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, Is 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bring good tidings, that publishes peace; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigns!,
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! More; Nah 1:15, 1Chr 16:31.
This is the Gospel as we have received it. It is foolishness to many, but life to those who believe in it and are willing to follow and be included in the death of Christ. Gospel means we are dead to self-life, fleshy lusts, and instincts, and we are alive with a new life of Christ. After baptism we rise up again back to new Spirit life, which is Christ Jesus.
THE HELMET OF SALVATION
As a soldier and a minister of God, this has to be upon your head the helmet of salvation. Is 59:16-17 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. 1Thess 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. Ps140:7 O, GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. Jesus is the salvation, the HEAD Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence, 1 Cor 2:16 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence, Philip 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
THE SHIELD OF FAITH
Eph 6:16 above all take the shield of Faith, Ps 35:1-3,9 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation, Ps 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. Gn 15:2 thus saith the Lord I am thy shield and thy exceedingly great reward, Ps 33:20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
POWER OF GRACE
1Cor 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 2Tim 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Eph 3:7 ,Philp 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me. Col 1:11 be strengthened according to His glorious Power.
THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S
What ever battle comes against us let us not use our wisdom to fight it but let God fight for you, for the battle is not yours but the Lords. 1 Sam 17:47 the LORD saveth not with a sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands thy enemies, Deut 20:32-35 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel (my name), ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; 4 For the LORD your God is he that goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. Zech 4:6 Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
RAYER AND FASTING
This is where power is and to move Gods Power within us. Fasting puts us in harmony with an All Powerful God who demands humility from those who wish to be close to Him.
This Prayer and Fasting does this to us;
Humbles the flesh, pleases the Spirit of God, the Voice of God is heard well, makes us to learn patience, makes you prepare for revival and awakening, gives you Gods focus for your life, Grace is given to the Humble, tests are passed quicker.
Some examples on fasting; Moses (80days), Elijah(40days 1Kings 19:8), Ezra(Ezra 8:21:23), Our Lord and Saviour (Lk 4:1-13), Paul(2Cor11:27),
The true fasting, Mt 6:16-18 moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Read Isaiah 58 "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Joel 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. God bless you.
