The sword of the Spirit is the first piece of armor that Paul provides us that is both defensive and offensive. All of the previous pieces were defensive. The weapon most effective to not only shield off the enemy but also to fight back with is none other than the very word of God. The word of God, according to Hebrews 4:12, is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. The Bible we have on our bookcase, or in the trunk of your car, or in an app on your phone, is more than just words printed on a page or screen.

Just as Jesus warded off the Devil when tempted in the wilderness, we have this great gift available to us to not only defend but strike back. But in order to use this weapon, we must know it in order to apply it. We must study it and be a constant learner of it. You won’t know it by casually reading it every so often. You know it because you devote yourself to it. You study it carefully and read with the intent to understand, which requires discipline. It’s no different if you were to learn how to combat with a real sword; if you don’t know how to use it, it will be of no use to you.

Pick up your Bible, study it, know it, and you’ll see a difference in your ability to fight the enemy.

Pastor Jason Witt

John 3:16 tells us everyone has a chance to go to Heaven. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What does it take to have eternal life? Believing in God’s Son, Jesus. That’s how people get saved.

The above verse tells us why people don’t get saved, because of their own love for darkness. In John 3:16, the word for love in “God so loved the world” is the Greek word agape. In John 3:19, the Greek word for love in “men loved darkness” is a form of the same word. The people who reject Jesus do so, not because of any kind of intellectual argument, but because they love the life they’re living and don’t want to give it up to worship God.

Our prayer for them is their eyes should be open to God’s love and they would turn from darkness to the Light, Jesus Christ.

I once was blind, but now I see,

Pastor Ron Kitchell

Mercy, by biblical definition, is God holding back judgment we rightfully deserve or, as it is often said, God not giving me what I deserve. No wonder the psalmist writes that the earth is full of His mercy. How often we see tragedy and sorrow caused by others and wonder why God has not yet seen fit to address it, to balance the books, to punish the offender. Indeed the earth is full of His mercy. God waits long for each of us to turn to Him for forgiveness and salvation. If not, then the mercy we see around us will only be temporary until we die and stand before our Judge.

But if we turn to Jesus in faith and cry out for His mercy, it will be permanent as Jesus paid for all our sins. Look around and see the mercy of God waiting patiently for us to turn to Him. Then pray, oh God, teach me Your statutes!

So amazed at God’s merciful ways,

Pastor Jack Abeelen

The last protective piece of the whole armor of God that Paul teaches every believer to put on to battle the enemy is the helmet of salvation. The salvation referred to here is not the salvation we receive when we first put our trust in Jesus. There are three stages to our salvation: first is our justification, becoming right with God as soon as we accept Him as Savior. The second is sanctification where, because we have God now living inside of us we are to walk or live in this new identity, becoming conformed to the life of Jesus. Then there is the third stage, glorification. This is what Paul is referring to in regards to putting on the helmet of salvation.

The helmet of salvation is the understanding that we will one day be freed entirely from this body of death. We will walk with Jesus in heaven and no longer be tempted or challenged. It is eternal life where we share in and enjoy Christ’s glory. To put this on means to be reminded every battle we face is temporary. It will soon be over and there will be no more; the reward to persevere is glorious and worth every bit of the difficulties we face now. Without this mindset, the battle can begin to wear on you and you begin to doubt.

Keep your eyes on the prize, put on the helmet of Salvation, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Pastor Jason Witt

We come to the last chapter of Job. We learned from the first chapters that Job had a list of things that happened to him. He and his three friends tried to make sense of it, but still face the Lord’s rebuke. When Job finally realized that God is God and nothing escapes Him, he says the above verse.

Job heard of God and knew of God but now because of everything that has happened, he can see Him clearly. Sometimes that is the case with us, isn’t it? We think we know God and we think we know why He is allowing for this to happen. But what we can’t see is the reason why God allows us to go through various trials. Romans 8:28 tells us “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

I’ve heard of you, but now I see You.

Joshua Navarro

Earlier in this chapter, the Lord had explained to the prophet Jeremiah that ruin and sorrow would soon come to Israel because of their refusal to repent. And Jeremiah would be the one to deliver God’s message to the people.

In his anguish over the judgment about to fall and the vile reception he would receive as the messenger of God, Jeremiah dug in deeper and expressed his full dependence upon God and upon God’s word.

This verse reminds me to ask myself, “Has reading the Bible become just another task that I need to get done? Does God’s word bring rejoicing to my heart, or is Christianity just the philosophy that I ascribe to?”

Today, join me in prayer and in action. Prayers that the Lord would reveal to us the deep treasures of His word; actions that involve our participation in reading and digesting every line of scripture that meets our eyes. Believer, you and I are called by His name. We are His children (John 1:12). Let’s be hungry to know our Heavenly Father better every day.

Jeff Deal

As you live your life as a child of God, you can know that there are going to be times when God is going to correct you. If you are walking in a way that is unworthy of the Lord, you may hear the still, small voice of God leading you back. As you read the Scriptures, you’ll find reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, or the Lord may issue correction in a situation or trial. In these moments, the proper response, if you are wise, is to respond to His correction as a good thing.

Remember, God is not beating you down. Jesus was bruised in your place. He disciplines you because He loves you. It’s for your protection, not your rejection, because Jesus was forsaken in your place. Jesus was pierced, crushed, and wounded, taking our punishment so that we might be in this place where we are so loved by our Heavenly Father that He would correct us when we go astray. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1

Pastor Doug Hardin

We are told in Hebrews 4:12 that the word of God is living and powerful. Here we see that our faith comes from the hearing of God’s word as well. Here is the question. If someone doesn’t believe the Bible to be true, does God’s word lose power? We know that the preaching of the cross of Christ is foolishness to those who are perishing. Also, we shouldn’t cast God’s word before swine. Still, that doesn’t change the effectiveness and power that we see in Scripture when it falls onto the ears of anyone willing to hear. Do you have someone to share with that doesn’t believe the Bible to be worth anything? That’s ok! Share God’s word with them anyway and see the power that we have in the word of God. Let that power of God’s word wash over your heart and mind today. We serve the Lord of all things!

Blessings,

Pastor Sean Boehm

There was a particular famous Christian from some years back who wrote a whole laundry list of reasons why paying taxes was illegal and thus refused to pay them. He ended up in jail and his ministry was greatly hindered.

Joseph told Pharaoh in the above verse to charge the people 20 percent tax on produce to be able to provide for the upcoming difficulties ahead.

The reason God says to pay our taxes is because ultimately He’s the provider and even if we were charged a 100 percent tax rate, He’d still find a way to provide. Even if our leaders are not as wise as Joseph, God is not limited by governments or paychecks. So next time we find ourselves grumbling about taxes, we need to remember to put our trust in God.

God is my provider,

Pastor Ron Kitchell

What is your confidence level in God today? Do you believe He is capable to see you through any situation? Solomon has a spiritual breakthrough as he examines the “”vanity” of life and gives us three aspects of God’s eternal actions. God’s actions are permanent, “it shall be forever.” God’s actions are effective and complete, “nothing can be added to it.” And God’s actions are totally secure, “nothing taken from it.” This should give us great confidence and, as the writer puts it, the purpose is that no matter what we face, we will fear God. That’s not the cringing of a slave before a cruel master, but the submission of an obedient child to a loving parent. If we fear God, we need not fear anything else, for He is in control.

Relying on Him,

Pastor Gerard Deleeuw