“Our Daily Bread”   

http://odb.org/2012/07/26/changing-enemies-into-friends/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht

Acts 20:32… So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.  (NKJV)

Yesterday, I wrote about Christian’s who have lost their faith in God…  I am here to tell you that this is definitely a result of Satan being able to overtake the weak Christian, who has no offense or good defense, against this cunning adversary… The Christian’s only defense against Satan, comes when the Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit, when the Lord is in total charge of their life… The apostle James says it best, in…James 4:7… Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  (NKJV)

But this protection from Satan is a combination of total submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit…and a complete suit of spiritual armor that God gives us as Christian’s to put on… I wrote yet again about “The Whole Armor of God” yesterday… and how the shield of faith, which the apostle Paul writes about in…Ephesians 6:10-20…was listed as the most important part of God’s spiritual armor…Ephesians 6:16… above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  (NKJV)

There is only one offensive piece of this 6 piece set of spiritual armor that God has given Christian’s to put on…and it is the Bible, the Word of God…Ephesians 6:17b… and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;  (NKJV)   …God’s Word is the source, “which is able to build you up”as a Christian, and will “give you an inheritance” along with other believers, as the opening scripture reveals…

I like what the apostle Peter has to say about this inheritance, in…1 Peter 1:3-4…  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (NKJV)

We are called as Christian’s, to live a life that is worthy of the inheritance of eternal life in heaven, the Lord has given to all Christian’s… It is reassuring that our salvation is “incorruptible and undefiled”; and that it “does not fade away”… But without spending time reading the Bible on a regular basis, to feed our spiritual being…we will not grow in our spiritual knowledge and wisdom that is needed to become a mature Christian…

Jesus told us this, in…Matthew 4:4… But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (NKJV) 

And the apostle Peter goes on in Chapter 2 of 1 Peter, with this, in…1 Peter 2:1-3… Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, ² as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  (NKJV)

So if you are a Christian who is tired of being dragged down by Satan, in his attempt to keep you unhappy and unproductive as a Christian…get the spiritual protection God has provided for you to put on against Satan’s attacks…Ephesians 6:11… Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  (NKJV)   …Here is the link for the entire list of God’s spiritual armor… http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph6:10-20&version=NKJV

This spiritual armor all stems from God’s Word; and the entire Bible has been given to the Christian by God, to make them complete in Christ…2 Timothy 3:16-17… You can live your life as a Christian God’s way…filled with the Holy Spirit and the joy and the absolute peace I so often write about, if you abide by God’s Word that is filled with His advice… Or you can go through life without the protection from Satan that God promises…and never realize that there is a better way to live…as you live to please our Father in heaven…

Here is scripture reflecting how powerful God’s Word can be…Hebrews 4:12-13… For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  (NKJV)

Heavenly Father, I pray that all readers would understand from Your Word today…that their only hope of absolute peace in this life, comes from spending time in Your Word… I pray Lord, that today’s Word would cut right to the soul of all of those in need…as they realize how important putting on Your “Whole Armor of God” becomes in their quest for protection from the evil one… I pray Lord, that Your Word would be opened and enjoyed by all of us…and that through the wisdom and the knowledge that Your Word provides…that we could all become Christian’s that learn to live complete, protected lives according to Your will and Your ways…  I pray for this perfect peace for all of us, that only You can provide…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

written by bruce r mills