What Jesus Came to Do...

No matter how much organization, hierarchy, etc. that a church body might have, this in itself is not a church. Just because we call ourselves a church does not make us a church. Because essentially THE church are those who have counted the cost and decided to live as Christ lived.

THE church is global, universal. The word "catholic" comes from the greek word, "katholikos" which actually means "universal."

My belief and it is renovate's conviction that Jesus didn't come to start a new religion. He came to start a church. To call people together to follow in his steps and make a difference in HIS name, not ours!

Let's look at Jesus' real message to the world:

"This Isaiah-prophesied sermon came to life in Galilee the moment Jesus started preaching. He picked up where John left off: "Change your life. God's kingdom is here."

Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed. (Matthew 4:17-20 Message)

They dropped everything and walked away from their lives, their careers…all of it just to follow Jesus! What compels a man to do this? Especially a man of the world! Fishermen are earthy characters, roughened by the trials of fighting between life and death on the seas. Yet these guys just walk away from everything they knew to follow a man??!! It doesn't make sense.

In Jesus' day, the boys were raised with religious training until they were 12 years old (until their bar mitzvah.) They had to memorize the entire first four books of the Old Testament.  They had even more training until they were in their mid-teens.  After all this training they would be "interviewed" by the rabbi (teacher) to see if they were "rabbi material" and if they could do what the rabbi did.  This was the highest honor they could be chosen for. 

If the rabbi thought they had the right stuff, he would say to them "Come, follow me."  And from that time, they would become his "disciples" and go wherever he went and learned how to do and to teach what he did.  If he didn't have what it took to be a rabbi, he would end his training and return home to do learn and follow in the family trade.

Peter and Andrew had been rejected from the highest honor in their day.  They had become fishermen because they didn't make the cut.  They had been rejected.  But now this popular teacher/rabbi named Jesus saw something in them that was worth something.  He believed in them.  He called them to be his disciples.  It changed their self-worth and their status forever.

Have you ever had someone believe in you when you didn't believe in yourself? Have you ever been included in something you didn't feel worthy of? What did that do for you? Did it change you?

This is how Jesus began to build his church...he called out a few good men! They were not perfect. (Have you ever knew some really honest fisherman?? Just kidding!!) They didn't fit the world's ideal or even the religious community's ideal of a leader, but yet, he called them.

This is the reason Jesus came not to start a new religion, but to start a new relationship!

Next we'll look at this new relationship and how it renovates our lives.

Poem by Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

renovating church

So to renovate church, first we have to know "what is church?"

Let's start by looking at our inspiration and the example for which we should model our life, the founder of the church, Jesus, and see what his definition of church truly was:

"Simon Peter said, 'You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.'

Jesus came back, 'God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.'" (Matthew 16:16-18, TMSG)

Here Jesus had asked his disciples who do you say that I am? Peter, known for sticking his foot in his mouth, blurted out rightly for once that he was the Son of God.

Jesus rewarded by saying that God Himself had shown Peter this. He goes on to say that on the revelation that he was the Son of God he would put together "his church."

The Greek word "ekklesia" means "called out." It was used among the Greeks of a body citizens "gathered" to discuss the affairs of state. In other words, Jesus was saying that he was going to build a gathering of people who were called out to work together for a singular purpose. This purpose was to live out the life he modeled for us.

Later in the New Testament we see the word "church" used to represent the whole of the believers in Christ, those who had made the decision to follow Christ as Lord of their lives.

Next, we'll look at what Jesus really came to do...

Day 47 - Easter Sunday

Day 47

 

"After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God's angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn't move. The angel spoke to the women: "There is nothing to fear here. I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed. "Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, 'He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.' That's the message."  The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. "Good morning!" he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet, and worshiped him. Jesus said, "You're holding on to me for dear life! Don't be frightened like that. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I'll meet them there."  Matthew 28:1-10 (TMSG)

 

Jesus' resurrection says to us that there is nothing that can separate us from God's love now.  It means that we never again will face anything in life without the assurance of God's presence and love for us.

 

Right now, in this moment, God will never love you any less than he does right now.  Also, he will never love you more.  His love for you is constant and we can trust it.  We can believe in it.  We can move and live and have our being in his love.  Why?  Because Jesus made it possible for us through his resurrection.  He conquered death, hell and the grave so we can have heaven!

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, thank you that you laid down your life for me, and that you also took your life back up, that I can experience your forgiveness, your justification and your freedom in my life.  In you I pray, Amen."

Day 46 - Saturday

Day 46

 

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."  Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

 

As we close this Lenten study of the armor of God, and as we look toward tomorrow as the day we will honor Christ's resurrection, let us understand in the end that the armor, and all it's accessories is actually the act of putting on the resurrected Christ.

 

Truth, righteousness, peace, salvation, faith, and the word of God all are attributes of the Christ Himself.  When God looks at you and me, he sees Jesus.  We are hid in him.  He responds to us as if he is responding to Jesus.

 

This is why, once we have clothed ourselves in Christ, we can stand and pray "in the Spirit."  This is the same Spirit that the sword belongs to.  This is the same Spirit that serves as a valet in dressing us in the armor of God.  This is the same Spirit, the Spirit of Christ who lives and dwells within us now.

 

We are not now or ever alone.  He dwells with us and is always available to help us and protect us and to assist us even in our prayers.

 

"…God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans...He knows us far better than we know ourselves…and keeps us present before God.That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." Romans 8:26b, 27a, 28 (TMSG)

 

As we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide our prayers, we will see our prayers become more and more effective in our lives and the lives of those around us.  He is faithful and will be so forever.  He is our comforter.

 

"But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won't draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said.  He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you." John 16:13-14 (TMSG)

 

Prayer:  "Holy Spirit, assist me in my prayers.  Clothe me in the armor, in Christ Himself and let me be hid in his presence.  I desire to live in him.  In Christ I pray, Amen."

 

Day 45 - Friday

Day 45

 

"And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God." Ephesians 6:17 (Amplified)

 

It is called the "sword of the spirit."  It is given to us as a part of our armor…but it is not of our design.  It was created and is managed by the Holy Spirit to be used in conjunction with our spirit. 

 

We are invited by God not only to learn and commit his Word to memory, but he is also inviting us into a partnership with the author of the Word.  The Word of God is active and powerful through the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

 

The more we build and listen to the Spirit of God, the more He will "sharpen" the sword in our lives.

 

"The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you."  John 14:26 (TMSG)

 

One of the things the Holy Spirit will facilitate in our lives is bring back to our remembrance the Word of God.  He will not only refresh our memories, but he will also teach us to understand what is said in the Word. 

 

For this reason, our relationship with Holy Spirit is important to be nurtured.  We need to listen to the promptings and leanings in our spirits that the Spirit uses to communicate to us.  One thing that will help us is to invite the Holy Spirit to open up the Word to us in revelation and explanation.  As we do this, we'll find that the Word will become more important to us and we'll find that we will hear his voice leading us quicker. 

 

This helps when we are facing adversity as well, because the Holy Spirit will quicken to us scriptures we have studies and memorized so that we can use them to defeat the attacks of those fiery arrows of the enemy.

 

Prayer:  "Holy Spirit, open up the Word of God to me and give me revelation as I read and study the Word.  Help me to be quick to respond to your leading and let me be able to use the sword in defeating the enemy in my life.  In Christ I pray, Amen."

Day 44 - Thursday

Day 44

 

"What God has said isn't only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts."  Hebrews 4:12 (CEV)

So how do we use this sword?  We talked earlier of how Jesus quoted the scripture to the enemy when in the midst of temptation and attack.  It is how he countered the attacks.  He knew how to use the sword swiftly and easily.  It was a natural response for him.

 

Why was the sword easy to use?  Jesus had immersed himself in the Word.  In fact, one of the names of Christ is "the Word."  John called him the "Word made flesh."  You and I obviously do not hold this same position, but we can follow in Jesus' footsteps, as everything Jesus did in the flesh was done as an example for us to follow.

 

He lived in the Word of God and made the scripture his focus.  As a young Hebrew man, he had learned the words of God, studied them and especially memorized them.  So when he needed a "sword," a particular word from God that applied to the situation he faced, the sword was presented easily. 

 

You and I have our armor readily available to us.  God has granted them to us as gifts, but without our participation and belief they will do us no good.  The sword especially needs our commitment.  We must take the sword into our hearts and minds.  It is the preparation for the future. 

 

"I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."  Psalm 119:11 (NLT)

 

When we study the scripture and commit its truth to memory, it creates a home in our hearts from which we can declare it in the times of our need.  We wield the sword by knowing the word of God and speaking it to ourselves and over our situations, against the plans and lies of the enemy.

 

Prayer:  "Lord, help me to store your words in my heart.  May my mouth be filled with your words when the lies of the enemy comes at me.  Allow your sword to fight on my behalf and give me victory.  In Jesus I pray, Amen."

 

Day 43 - Wednesday

Day 43

 

"In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance." Revelation 1:16 (NIV)

So now that we know the Word of God is like a sword, how do we handle this sword?  What do we do with it?  As we look at the life of Jesus, we see one famous example.

 

Jesus, having been baptized by John, affirmed by God that he truly was God's beloved Son, was led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted of the devil.  Earlier in this series we saw that it was this confirmation and determination of his identity that prepared Jesus for his encounter with Satan. 

 

But how Jesus responded to the devil is what we need to take notice of today.  He countered every lie and temptation of the enemy with the truth of God's word. 

 

"Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'

Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 

Luke 4:4, 8, 12 (NIV, emphasis mine)

 

He did not try to battle the lies and temptations with his own thoughts, his own opinions, but rather he leans back into history and decrees God's words to counter the enemy.

 

Some presume to be able to battle with the enemy on their own terms, but to follow the Lord's example is best.  God gives us his Word as a sword, which we can use as a weapon.  But it is only a weapon designed for the enemy.  We are not to manipulate the Word to get our own way or control others, but if we are to fight with it, let it be for the destruction of the enemy's lies that we use it. 

 

Prayer:  "God, teach me to use your Word not for my own gain or against another person, but instead teach me to handle your Word with strength and dignity befitting it.  Teach me how to use it against the lies and temptations of the enemy that come my way.  In Jesus I pray, Amen."

 

Day 42 - Tuesday

Day 42

 

"God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey." Hebrews 4:12 (TMSG)

We see here in this passage, that the sword, the Word of God is not meant simply as a sword to played with or to be carelessly used, but rather its primary job is to get to the heart of us who wield it.  Its goal is not to slay others, though the enemy is routed by it and we will see that later.  But its first directive is to open up our hearts.  It is to divide within us that which is spirit and that which is of our own devices.

 

Maybe this is why Paul calls upon the leaders of this new movement of "the Way" to rightly divide the word of truth.

 

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

 

That word "dividing" means to make a straight cut, to dissect or expound properly.  That sounds like a sword's job to me.  But notice in the Hebrews 4 scripture, this cutting is happening in us.  The word is a sword or knife that cuts through all that life has tried to force us into being, through the failures and the successes, the friends and the betrayers, the lies and the truths we've heard.  All these have shaping power in our lives. 

 

But the Word, when we allow it access into our lives, it becomes a knife to cut away all those things that are detrimental to us and leaves us open and receptive to the voice of the Spirit of God.  Surgery can be scary.  A knife to the heart of our being is not something we would look forward to.  But our Father is a master at bringing us to him. 

 

I am reminded of a movie quote from the Kevin Costner movie, Robin Hood.  The scene is this:  the villain, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Robin are fighting.  The Sheriff had killed Robin's father with the father's own sword and was now taunting Robin that he would kill him with the same sword.  Robin Hood makes this statement that has stuck with me since I heard it:

 

"I shall never fear my father's sword."

 

Today, as we allow the Word, our Father's sword, cut away those things that stand between us, let us not be afraid, but trust that He who created us does all things well.

 

Prayer:  "Father, once again I come to you in trust and faith, believing you have my best in mind.  I believe your Word will work in me and remove those things that are not beneficial to my walk with you.  It will heal as it removes sins and falsehood and it will draw me ever closer to you.  In Christ's name, Amen."

 

Day 41 - Monday

Day 41

 

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

The word of God is living and active.  Did you realize that the word, this beautiful, life changing word that we study everyday and listen to is a force to be reckoned with?  This word is not simply words on a page, but something birthed from the heart of God.

 

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

 

When God is speaking to us through his word and it stirs us, and we respond to his prompting, it becomes alive, living and operational in our lives.  Someone said once that we don't read the Bible, but that the Bible reads us.  We then get changed in the process. 

 

It is this activity that God's word takes on in our lives which Paul says is our sword.  Some people think that the Word of God is a weapon to be used on others, something to control others into doing what they want.  But we know that the Word of God is something living and breathing and makes a home on the inside of us.

 

It is this operation of the word, alive in the power of the Holy Spirit on the inside of us that becomes dangerous.  It will cut through all the pretense that we set up around our lives which we "think" protects us.  We might put our hope and trust in our economic status in life or where we were born, who our family is or what we look like.  But these things will not cover us.  Even our religiosity will not protect our hearts.  These are false armors.

 

The Word of God alone can strike the fatal blow to the enemy's plan in our lives.  But it will not be enough merely to read or study the Word, but we must allow it access to our hearts.  Allow it to change us from the inside out, and then it can remove those footholds of the enemy in our thinking and in our souls.

 

Prayer:  "Holy Spirit, make the Word of God come alive in me this day.  I trust that it can and will defeat the enemy in my life as I entrust my life into it's wisdom and truth.  Lead me by your Word this day.  In Jesus I pray, Amen."

Day 40 - Sunday

Day 40

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)

The sword of the Spirit is the last accessory of the armor. We've been looking at God's defensive protection for the believer up to this point: truth, righteousness, faith, peace, salvation. No other piece is an offensive weapon, only this, the sword, is a weapon.

It is interesting that God does not give us an arsenal of weapons to fight with in the wars of our life. No, simply protects us and hands us a sword.

The word, sword, comes from a Greek word, "machaira" which means knife. It's a term used by modern scholars to describe a type of ancient bladed weapon, generally a large knife with a slight backwards curve. In some ancient texts, it can even refer to a surgeon's scalpel.

But this sword/knife is not just any sword. Paul tells us that the Word of God is our weapon. This weapon is a precise instrument. "Word" comes from the Greek "rhema." It refers to the utterance from God. This is the living word that comes from God to our heart. It is that moment we are reading the scripture and it comes alive to us. We know that we know it is true, and that it is speaking to our situation.

It is this that we use to fight against the enemy of our souls. When the word of God comes alive and we believe it, it becomes a power for us to defeat the lies and the attacks that come in life.

Prayer: "Father, thank you that you not only give me things to protect myself with, but also give me a weapon to fight with in the battles of life. I thank you that you speak through your word to me and my situations and as I stand in faith on these words, you give me victory. In Jesus I pray, Amen."

Day 39 - Saturday

Day 39

 

"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear."  Isaiah 59:1 (NIV)

"Savior

He can move the mountains
My God is Mighty to save
He is Mighty to save
Forever
Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave"

- from Mighty to Save,

   by Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding

 

That God is mighty to save is a theme we find in the scripture.  There is no length to which God will not go to save us.  King David said that he could go to the depths of hell and God would still be able to find him.  Why?  Because of God's love for his people, he is not willing to throw us away, when we fail and struggle with our faith, but rather he is actively working in our lives through prevenient grace, circumstances, divine appointments, and any host of avenues to help and protect us. 

 

We can trust that God is just as determined to protect our mind as he is to save our souls from hell.  This helmet of salvation that surrounds our minds is just another example of God's care and love for us.  He wants us to be free in our minds to believe and trust. 

 

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

 

Jesus is inviting us to cast all of our cares upon him.  Here he is telling us that when we displace worry and fear in our lives and replace with faith in him, he will cover us, meet our needs and fulfill our hearts and minds.  Let us allow the salvation, God's saving, keeping, protecting power, cover our minds.

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, thank you that you are mighty to save.  I believe that you are more than enough for me.  I believe you are covering me and strengthening me by your salvation.  Thank you.  In your name, Amen."

 

Day 38 - Friday

Day 38

 

"For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory."  Colossians 1:27 (NLT)

As we explore the idea of salvation and the hope that it secures for our mind, let us not forget that it is not something separate from Christ himself.  Just as he is truth, righteousness, author of our faith and the Prince of peace, so also is he our Savior.  He is the rescuer, the saving Messiah who comes to redeem us.  We can say like Job, "I know my Redeemer lives." 

 

Because he lives, and stands as our salvation, we can know that our salvation is secure.  There is much debate in the Body of Christ about whether or not there is "eternal security."  And on both sides of the debate, there are many scriptures to support both arguments.  But after reading the scripture for myself and studying it, I believe there is a better way of looking at it. 

 

I believe our salvation is more secure than we believe, yet within the confines of our free will.  Our human nature likes to put things into a category, who's in and who's out.  Religion continues to follow this theme, adding its own brand of spiritual labels.  Under the threat of losing our salvation and going to hell, religion seeks to control and make people "behave." 

 

But this fear-based, performance-based spirituality is not spirituality at all.  Jesus came to save us from all things that separate us from God.  Sin separates us, but also fear driven obedience to rules separate us too.  Jesus came to establish us in love, letting us for the first time get a glimpse of the love of God. 

 

Paul called it the riches and glory of Christ that was given to us.  And the best of all, this salvation allows Christ now to live within us by his Spirit.  We now can wear this assurance of his salvation covers us.  We now can live without fear of losing our salvation.  Perfect love casts out fear.

 

Prayer:  "Father, thank you that you have given me assurance of your salvation through Christ.  I entrust my life and my salvation to you and believe fear is cast away from me as I receive your love today.  In Christ's name, Amen."

 

Day 37 - Thursday

Day 37

 

"But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet."  1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NIV)

Here is Paul writing to another church, the Christians at Thessalonica, and once again, he imagines salvation as a helmet.  But here he specifies the "hope of salvation."  The hope of our salvation is set in the belief that God has and is saving us. 

 

Hope is powerful.  Men and women can survive many things, but without hope to sustain them, the stamina to stand in the face of adversity quickly dwindles.  So what is this hope of salvation?  It is the hope found in knowing we have a Savior that is delivering us from sin, from death, from hell, from ourselves.  He saves us from the effects of a sinful world that wears against our mind by telling us there is no God and no future for the Christian.  It is our hope in this salvation that guards our minds in Christ!

 

The word "hope" comes from the Greek word elpis and is translated as "confident expectation."  This is a far more descriptive and accurate definition of the helmet that safeguards our minds.  When we place our hope in God and his promises for us, we find that our worries and fears about the future, and about our present situations as well, are replaced by the assurance that God is with us.  This creates the peace of God inside of us.

 

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

 

In Christ, we find that peace, because of his salvation is our portion in this life and will protect our hearts and minds.  No wonder that King David, the Psalmist, wrote that his hope was found in his Savior:

 

"Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."  Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)

 

Prayer:  "Savior, thank you that you save me from my worries, my fears and my doubts.  Thank you that as I place my confident expectation in your care and love for me my mind and heart is set in peace.  In Christ's name, Amen."

Day 36 - Wednesday

Day 36

 

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me."  Psalm 138:7 (NIV)

We talked earlier about how we are saved, and yet being saved at the same time.  Our salvation is a one time event, but also an on-going process.  What areas in your life is God "saving" you still?

 

Our helmet of salvation, this rescue from God, operates as we walk through life.  It will guard and keep our minds as we journey on the path of faith.  So many times we think of salvation as the "day we got saved."  We chose to follow Christ and believe that we went from death to life in that decision.  But really our translation from being lost to found was just the beginning of our salvation.

 

God is at work redeeming and rescuing us from before we chose to follow him.  There is a phrase called "prevenient grace," which simply means that God was working in your life even before you knew him to bring you to a place of understanding and receiving his salvation.  He loves us so much he begins to work on us before we even know him, preparing us to be a part of his family.

 

Then after we connect with Christ and make him our Lord, his Spirit goes to work in us to make us more like Christ.  Much of this process will take place in our mind, as what we think and believe affect how we live and act.  This is "sanctification," a work of on-going salvation as we learn to surrender the things that are not like Christ and be formed into his image.

 

We must partner with his Spirit in allowing him access to our thought life, permitting the conviction of the Holy Spirit to alert us when our thinking is not aligned with the will of God.  As we study and learn the Word of God, our mind is renewed and we change as the things that break the heart of God also break our own heart. 

 

We are saved, yet being saved everyday.

 

Prayer:  "Spirit of God, teach me to hear your voice, learn your will for my life, and act upon your moving in my heart.  Thank you that you are constantly making me into Christ's image.  In Jesus I pray, Amen."

Day 35 - Tuesday

Day 35

 

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."  Romans 12:1-2 (TMSG)

This is one of my favorite verses found in the Message version of the Bible.  It helps us to see that this helmet of salvation, this renewing of our mind takes place in our day to day lives.  God uses the context of our lives to work out his image in us.  Our armor is designed for not only the attacks the enemy sends our way, but so that we can live like Christ.  Christlikeness is the goal of the Christian.

 

The Message tells us that the best thing we can do for God is to embrace what He has done for us.  When we try to give someone a wonderful gift that means much to us, the greatest blessing to us is for them to receive it with gratefulness.  The same is true with God.  We honor him and his gift of salvation when we embrace what he has done for us. 

 

As we allow his salvation, the grace that he has poured in our lives, lead us in our day-to-day routines, we will find that he will change us from the inside out.  As we respond to the stirring in our hearts to do what we feel God desires, we'll find that we hear and understand his voice sooner and more often. 

 

Our daily routines performed with our hearts tuned to the Spirit's promptings train us for battle in those bad days.  It is this working out our salvation that produces spiritual maturity in us.

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, teach me how to hear your Spirit in the day-to-day routines, so that I can follow you and grow in spiritual maturity.  Thank you that you train me to walk with you in the good times so that I will know how to walk with you in the bad times too.  In your name I pray, Amen."

Day 34 - Monday

Day 34

 

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"  Ephesians 6:17 (KJV)

The word "take" that Paul uses here in the original Greek means "accept, receive, or take."  In other words, Paul is telling us once again that our salvation, this helmet that will cover our minds, is a gift from God.

 

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God"  Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

 

Our salvation is a gift of God.  It is not something that have to work up and produce on our own but rather the grace of God is freely offered to us. It is this freely offered salvation that Christ gives to us that will guard our minds. 

 

But will we choose to take it up.  Will we choose to receive the transformation that comes to our mind when salvation takes it's place in our lives?  Even though salvation is a free gift from God, we still have a part to play.  We are invited to partner with God and fulfill his will in our lives. 

 

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

 

As partners with God, and as we choose to allow the change in our thinking to take place, we will "work out" our salvation.  Think of it as "fleshing" out what God has done for us.  Our mind is renewed as we grow to understand and believe that which God has said about us.  Truth replaces the lies of the enemy in our lives and our minds, which is a battlefield the enemy likes to use against us, is protected by this wonderful gift of God.

 

Prayer:  "Lord, thank you for your grace and salvation that has been so freely offered to me.  Help me to believe that salvation is covering my mind and heart, transforming who I am as I trust you.  Renew my mind, in your name I pray, Amen."

Day 33 - Sunday

Day 33

 

"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:17 (TSMG)

Paul now is rounding out his metaphor of the spiritual clothes that God has given us with the "helmet of salvation."  Here he tells us that salvation will be as a helmet to protect our head, which in turn will protect our minds. 

 

I believe it is very interesting that it's salvation that will be part of our mind's protection.  For it is in our minds that the battle most often rages.  We definitely deal with attacks physically in sickness or in other battles with people and personalities.  But the biggest struggle that you and I will face in our lives will be within our own minds.

 

How we think about God, about our lives, about who we are in the grand scheme of it all will potentially win or lose the battle for us.  It is in our mind, what we believe, that will determine who the victor is.  This is why Paul calls us to renew our minds:

 

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."  Romans 12:2 (NIV)

 

Notice that the transforming of our life will not take place in simply changing how we live, what patterns of life we will conform to.  No, it will take place when our mind is renewed to that which is God's will, his purpose and desires for us.  When we simply try to "be good" or change our behavior simply because we think that's what God would want from us, it will only last a short time, because behavior modification does not work.  It must be a transformation that comes from changing how we think or feel or believe…which starts in the mind.

 

Salvation is the beginning.  Too many times the church believes that salvation is the end point.  It is "closing the deal" with someone who doesn't know Christ.  It is the goal, but that is not how Paul or the other writers of the Bible saw it.  Salvation is an event…and a process.  We are saved and being saved at the same time.  And our helmet will help us in that process!

 

Prayer:  "Father, thank you that you believe in me and have given to me the helmet of salvation.  I believe that you are working in me to do your will and good pleasure.  Renew my mind that I may be transformed into the image of Jesus.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen."

Day 32 - Saturday

Day 32

 

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"  Romans 8:32 (NIV)

As we close this look the shield of faith, let's discuss one more thing about faith.  In most recent years in the church, the teaching about faith has become almost a fad.  It has become thought of as a currency through which we get things from God. 

 

The picture that comes to mind is a mafia godfather who demands loyalty and if we offer just the right words, remain in his good graces and believe just the right things, our life will be "protected."  We will be covered by the protection of the godfather.  But if we falter in faith, worry or doubt, we will lose all standing with him and now all evil is able to touch us. 

 

This is not what we see Paul saying throughout his epistles.  Rather he invites us into a relationship with God…a loving Father, not a manipulative godfather who demands complete allegiance or suffer the consequences.  No, Paul's God has laid the consequences of our bad behavior and our sin nature on Jesus and through his sacrifice, God now looks with favor on his people. 

 

We are freely given the gift of grace.  Grace alone is a beautiful word that invites the hearer to breathe deeply, freely, knowing that God is on our side.  He gave us a high priest, Jesus, who understands and is intimately acquainted with what it means to be human and struggle with life and all it presents us.  Because of this, because of Jesus, we can trust (believe and have faith in) God's unconditional love for us. 

 

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

 

It is this that when we believe and trust in, his love for us, we can heft the shield of faith and quench those fiery darts.  Why?  Because of God's great and unconditional love for us and our faith in it will vanquish the lies of the enemy and the attacks that come our way.

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, thank you for your love and for your sacrifice for me.  Help me to believe your unconditional love for me and let me have faith that withstands the fiery attacks that come from life and the enemy.  I believe in you and trust you. In your name I pray, Amen."

Day 31 - Friday

Day 31

 

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

I'm wondering something today.  I'm wondering if you are like me.  Do you ever get an odd thought come to you, a fearful thing that comes to mind unbidden, but instead of getting rid of the thought, you dwell on it a little too long?  Maybe it's a worry about the future or a fear of losing a loved one. 

 

These thoughts come and tempt our mind to take detours away from what we know is true.  They are like a seed that is planted and if we allow it to stay, it will grow until we've allowed our imaginations to run away with us and take us down paths mentally and emotionally that keep us from living in a life of faith. 

 

Part of the job of the shield of our faith is to protect us from these attacks of doubt and fear.  But we must take action against them; we must choose to use our shield.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians that we must take captive the thoughts that prop themselves up as more important and against the truth that God has given us. 

 

When we choose to believe the truth of God, it is our faith in this knowledge that will protect us and "shield" us from these lies and fears that come to our minds.  This is a defense to our souls.  We counteract the attacks of the enemy when we choose to reject these fleeting thoughts that try to take root in our hearts and replace them with the affirmations of God's promises. 

 

His word, the Bible, is filled with promises of his grace and support and love for his children.  And this is that good news we talked of before.  It is the gospel message that we don't have to live in fear or worry, but rather place our trust and faith in God who loves us and will never leave us or forsake us.

 

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 (NIV)

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, I trust you and believe you have my best in mind for me.  Give me grace when the attacks of the enemy come to my mind and teach me how to trust you and cast my cares upon you rather than listen to the lies of the enemy.  Thank you for the shield of my faith in you.  In you I pray, Amen."

Day 30 - Thursday

Day 30

 

"How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! It's like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, Flowing down Aaron's beard…"  Psalm 133:1-2 (TMSG)

The anointing is a metaphor of the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  The name "the Anointed" is also a name for Jesus, as the word "Christ" means "anointed one."  If we are truly learning to lean into the Lord and let our trust and belief in him be our "anointed shield," we are taking up the shield of faith and Jesus will quench these fiery darts in our lives. 

 

The oil actually plays a role with our shield.  The Hebrews had a tradition with their shields.  They would use leather shields, and would rub oil into the leather to make it supple and fit for war.  They would say that they are "anointing the shield."  To anoint meant to pour oil on or to rub oil into.

 

King David talked about how when we work together in unity (together in step and support) that it is like the anointing oil that God used to anoint the high priest.  This anointing was a sign of being set apart for a special purpose or ministry.

 

You and I have been set apart for a special purpose and plan that God has ordained.  His anointing rests on our lives as we seek to serve him.  This anointing is activated in our lives as we place our trust in him and step out of our comfort zones to follow him. 

 

As we work together, it will build our strength and protection.  Our shields become linked together and are empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

 

Prayer:  "Father, anoint us as we use our faith each day to follow you.  Help me to find ways to spread my shield over others and help us to walk in step with you and each other.  In you I pray, Amen."

Day 29 - Wednesday

Day 29

 

"In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil." Ephesians 6:16 (NLT)

Today I want to focus our attention to the formation they would make with their shields.  Being a Roman citizen, Paul was well-acquainted with the Roman soldiers and their warfare tactics.  One of these was to bring their shields together to the point they were almost linked, not allowing room for an arrow to get through. 

 

Imagine what the enemy of these armies thought when they advanced on these Romans, only to find a moving, living shield of protection guarding against the fiery arrows they had launched at them.  It must have struck terror in their hearts.

 

We need one another's shields.  My shield alone will not protect me completely, but I need to link up with my brothers and sisters not only for my own help, but to help them as well.

 

There is a great story from the history of Israel about Jonathan, the son of King Saul, who was moved by God to fight against the Philistine army and looking to the young man who helped carry his armor, he said:

 

"Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come on now, let's go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe God will work for us. There's no rule that says God can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop God from saving when he sets his mind to it." His armor bearer said, "Go ahead. Do what you think best. I'm with you all the way." 1 Samuel 14:6-7 (TMSG)

 

They defeated this garrison of the enemy, just the two of them.  But they were in step, in unity with each other.  Jonathan spread his faith over him and his armorbearer, the faith that God was with them and would deliver.  It is this linking of each other's heart, as well as mind, that brought them protection and the ability to fight for each other.

 

And as we link arms with our brothers and sisters, we will help each other defeat the enemy in our lives.  We are in a battle and we cannot simply fight alone, but we need to realize that our shield is not just for us, but for our friends, family and neighbors too. 

 

Prayer:  "Jesus, help me lift my faith as a shield today, as I choose to link with others who find themselves in the battle of life. I cannot fight this war on my own, and neither can they.  Keep us we pray, as we fight for and defend one another. In you I pray, Amen."