“Our Daily Bread”   

http://odb.org/2012/08/22/theory-of-everything/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht

2 Timothy 3:17… that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  (NKJV)

It’s only fitting that I chose this opening verse, for the day I write about the last and final of 6 pieces of God’s armor (Ephesians 6:10-20)… God’s Word (the sword of the Spirit), is where this help from the Lord starts(Ephesians 6:17)…  And with all 6 pieces of God’s spiritual armor firmly in place, the man of God will be “thoroughly equipped” with everything he needs to live a life that can be virtually free from Satan’s penetrating “fiery darts”…  This is a pretty bold statement, but I am living proof that God’s Word is true… But my boldness is in Jesus Christ, with the full power of the Holy Spirit; not my own weak flesh…

Ephesians 6:11… Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to standagainst the wiles of the devil.  (NKJV)

Here is a link to my previous writings, for those who what to get a clear picture of all of my thoughts as to why some Christians are “filled to overflowing” with the Holy Spirit (living water…Jeremiah 2:13)…and why some Christians aren’t…     https://godsmanforever.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=343&action=edit

The last and most difficult piece (in my humble opinion) of God’s armor that the Christian must put on to be “thoroughly equipped”…is found in…Ephesians 6:15… and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  (NKJV)  

I have read other writers thoughts on this scripture say, that if we shod our feet with a complete understanding of the gospel of Christ…we will then be able to share our own testimony and/or the gospel of Christ to those around us in need… But because of my own life experience, I believe that this lastpiece of armor, “the preparation of the gospel of peace”, is an internal piece of armor (not external), to keep our own flesh from taking back control from the Holy Spirit…  

In the 7 years and 2 days from the day I was graced with salvation…I only shared the gospel of Christ with 2 people… This is because I had somehow taken back control from the Holy Spirit; and in my own flesh, I had no boldness or help without being filled with the Spirit…  Not only this…my peace and my joy were gone…  I believe the “gospel of peace”armorto control our flesh, is what is needed to have the absolute peace God will only give to the Spirit filled Christian (Philippians 4:6-7)… On June 4^th, 2009…I got down on my knees and prayed to the Lord to give me back the peace and the joy that I had originally possessed… I once again totally submitted my life to the Lord, and was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit…

For me, this was proof…that even when I was wearing 5 of the 6 pieces of spiritual armor that was indeed keeping Satan at bay…my own flesh was much more powerful in taking control away from the Holy Spirit…

When we are wearing all 6 pieces of God’s armor…we will be totally protected from both Satan’s attacks, and our own flesh…  The apostle James reveals this in…James 4:7… Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  (NKJV)

We will be totally controlled by the Holy Spirit if we…“submit to God”… And if we are wearing the “Whole Armor of God”…we will “be able to standagainst the wiles of the devil.”

From my previous writing, I repeat what Jesus tells us, in…John 7:38… “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”  (NKJV)

Without Satan penetrating our fragile clay vessel (because it is protected by the “Whole Armor of God”)…and if our own flesh is guarded by the “gospel of peace”armor…the “rivers of living water”Jesus speaks of, will continue to expand with-in our clay vessel, until they can do nothing else but overflow from our lives…

This is my word picture analysis of my own observations about the Holy Spirit with-in me… The apostle Paul tells us this, in…Philippians 2:12…  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;  (NKJV)  …This is the way I have worked out my own salvation…and how I have been able to become “filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit”… Praise the Lord, and may He be glorified by His mighty work in me !!

Heavenly Father, I pray my personal life story of my putting on Your complete set of spiritual armor, including my final submission of my life to You…will not only bring You the honor and the glory You so richly deserve…I pray that it will encourage all Christians to seek and to put on their own spiritual protection…to allow themselves to become “filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit”… I pray for this super, Spirit filled condition of joy and absolute peace (Philippians 4:6-7) for all of our lives, in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

written by bruce r mills