Sword of the Spirit

Sword of the Spirit – Establish Our Work #1193

Posted on May 8, 2022 by ron021950

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1193

“Establish Our Work”

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. – Psalm 90:17 (NIV)

I recently started a new business in my retirement and for the first time in my 60 years of work life I have come to a deeper understanding of what it means to work for the Lord.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men – Colossians 3:23

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31

In working for ‘Corporate America’ most of my work life it was too easy to see the ‘hand of my employer’ providing my needs instead of the hand of God my Father despite knowing the Scriptures to the contrary. Even while self-employed for a season, my tendency was to rely on my resources and abilities to establish the business instead of fully relying on God.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. – Philippians 4:19; Psalm 145:16

Oh yes, the struggle continues: this war between the flesh and the spirit. The economy is shaky, inflation is rampant, the war in the Ukraine, the persistent coronavirus. These pressures all add up to shake our faith and our confidence in the Lord and in the Truth of His Word. We have to realize that these negative thoughts are from the enemy, and we defeat him through the Truth of God’s Word in prayer. There is no reason to fear and lose confidence.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. – Isaiah 41:10; Proverbs 3:26

The Lord gave us this devotional’s reference Scripture from Psalms 90:17 to pray over our new business venture. The word translated ‘favor’ means the beauty, pleasantness, and delightfulness of the Lord. The prayer is for this favor to be upon us, and it brings us peace – His peace during the challenging aspects of the work as well as these challenging times we live in.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. – Philippians 4:6

The word translated ‘establish’ means to be firm and solid like a house built on a rock. The prayer is for the Lord to make firm the work of our hands not only for us but also for those whom we serve.

From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. – Proverbs 12:14; Matthew 5:16

May the favor of the Lord rest upon you and establish the work of your hands for you and for those for whom you work and serve in His Name and for His glory.

Posted in Business as Mission | Tagged Favor of God, work | Leave a comment

Sword of the Spirit – Why Sit Here?

Posted on May 1, 2022 by ron021950

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1191

“Why Sit Here”

Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” … – 2 Kings 7:2

Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? – 2 Kings 7:3

Elisha prophesied that the siege and famine would end within 24 hours and the King’s Captain dismissed the whole idea as preposterous. Meanwhile there were four lepers sitting outside the city gate mulling over their options.

This a story about stepping out in faith and remaining mired in the quicksand of unbelief and indecision. Our lack of faith – our unbelief – questions the truthfulness of God’s Word as the King’s Captain did. How many times have we heard or thought to ourselves: ‘This is impossible’; ‘God does not work like that’; ‘I can never be forgiven’; ‘I’ll never be free from this addiction’; and the ever popular, ‘We have never done it that way before’.

Our faith falters when we look to our own devices and resources and the resources of this world instead of to God. We end up viewing God’s ability by the ability we can muster and define. In essence we put God in a box of our own design and let me tell you that box is always too small.

God loves us enough to work all circumstances for our good and sometimes those circumstances bring us to the point of despair. He will sometimes back us up into a corner in a deep well such that there is only one way to look, and that way is up. Stripped of all our self-reliance we finally look up and pray to our Father who loves us enough to bring us to the end of ourselves and reach out to Him in faith.

The four lepers were at the end of themselves. No matter what they did the potential outcome was that they would die. They reasoned logically that they had nothing to lose and everything to gain by going to the enemy’s camp, so why just sit there?

Why sit steeped in sin? Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, – Acts 3:19

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! – Psalm 34:8

Why sit in a chemically induced stupor? He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. – Psalm 107:14

Why sit in fear? fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand – Isaiah 41:10

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and who makes the Lord his trust. – Jeremiah 17:7-8

Why sit in self-pity? For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think… – Romans 12:3

Why sit in unforgiveness? Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; – Luke 6:37

It has been said that some people prefer the certainty of misery to the misery of uncertainty. This was the case with the King’s Captain. We can second guess God’s Word and suffer from analysis paralysis unable or unwilling to take steps of faith in response to God’s Word and His call upon our lives.

Why are you just sitting there? What holds you back? Is it fear of failure, ridicule, lack of confidence, unworthiness?

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. So, we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” – Philippians 4:13; Hebrews 13:6

Jesus asked the man paralyzed for 8 years if he wanted to be healed. It was a question that required a yes or no answer. The man responded with excuses as to why he was not healed. He viewed his healing through the box of resources he had defined. But when Jesus told him to take up his mat and walk, he did so immediately.

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. – John 5:6-9

Why are you just sitting there? What is God calling you to do or receive from Him? Where is He asking you to go?

Pray for the Holy Spirit to speak clearly to your heart through His Living Word and then take the steps of faith as He directs.

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. – Isaiah 30:21

Posted in Business as Mission | Tagged addiction, analysis paralysis, forgiveness, unbelief | Leave a comment

Posted on April 24, 2022 by ron021950

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1191

“Ears to Hear”

He who has ears, let him hear. – Matthew 13:9

I have age related hearing loss. My hearing ability gradually became dulled over time, and I was relatively unaware of the wide variety of sounds that I was missing until I was fitted with tuned hearing aids.

… And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. – 1 Kings 19:11-13

Elijah was able to hear the whisper of God because his heart was attuned to Him. How about our ability to hear the still small voice of God? We were so sensitive to it when we first accepted Christ and were saved, but then, over time our ability to hear became dulled as our hearts became hardened by sin and the cares of this world. A person’s ability to hear and receive God’s Word is determined by the condition of their heart. Jesus taught about this in the parable of the Sower.

…some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, …and…since it had no depth of soil…it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it… And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”- Mark 4:8-10

God’s Word is not just for a select few. It is for all of humanity – Those who have ears to hear. If our hearts are not distanced from God (seed along the path), or half-hearted toward God, playing church if you will (seed on rocky soil), or divided between the pleasures of the world and the kingdom of God (seed among thorns), then our hearts are like the good soil in the parable and we have ears that will hear His voice and allow His Word to bear fruit in our lives to His glory.

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life; Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; …Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me… Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; …. – Proverbs 4:23; Isaiah 55:1-3

Have your ears to hear the Word of God become dulled because rebellion has calloused your heart toward Him? God is persistent in speaking to you through the Body of Christ and His living Word. He will not give up on you.

Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not…; You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the Lord persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets – Ezekiel 12:2; Jeremiah 25:4

May your heart be changed, transformed, and renewed by the Holy Spirit. May your spiritual ears be attuned to His voice, no matter how faint, that you may clearly hear His direction amidst the cacophony of competing sounds from the cares of this world.

Posted in Business as Mission | Tagged hearing, tender heart | Leave a comment

Sword of the Spirit – This Day #1190

Posted on April 17, 2022 by ron021950

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1190

“This Day”

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:39-43

Have you ever planned a birthday or other type of anniversary celebration and researched the date for interesting events or facts that occurred on that date in history? I was searching for the events of April 7 and discovered that some historians believe that this day in 30 A.D. is the day that Jesus Christ was crucified.

While the actual date of Christ’s crucifixion is debated, the Truth of God’s Word tells us that the day that Christ died is the same day that one of the criminals crucified alongside of Jesus received salvation and went to be with Him in paradise.

The sobering truth is that this day, today, may be our last on earth. The reality of this truth is starkly evident to the people of Ukraine as well as people throughout the world being subjected to war, riots, violence, and acts of terrorism. Those of us living in seemingly relative safety need to wake up to this reality.

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. – Matthew 25:13

Far too many of us Christian and Non-Christian alike, live as if there will always be a tomorrow. We behave as if there will be no accountability for our reckless lifestyle. Jesus taught a parable about the man who was planning to build more barns to store the wealth of his crops and how he planned to live in luxury as if his tomorrows would never end. Jesus called that man a fool because that very night that man was destined to die.

And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” – Luke 12:16-21

This day in history – today – this hour – this moment can be a profound moment affecting you for eternity. Jesus taught that He could return at any time and cautioned us to always be ready. Are you ready today, this day?

If you are unsure about your eternal future, I encourage you to seriously consider the true meaning of this Easter season. God loves you, me, and all of humankind so much that He came in the person of Jesus Christ to bear the just punishment for our sins.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. – John 3:16; Luke 19:10

The rebuke of the thief to the one who railed against Jesus is a valid rebuke to us today: “Do you not fear God?”

Likewise, his simple prayer and statement of faith: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” changed his eternal destiny and it can change yours also.

May the Holy Spirit draw you to Jesus to receive eternal life through Him.

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Therefore … let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. – 1 John 5:11; Hebrews 12:1-2

May this day be the day in your history where your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

May you have a blessed Easter holiday!

Posted in Business as Mission | Tagged Easter, salvation, salvation through Jesus | Leave a comment

Sword of the Spirit – Choke #1189

Posted on April 10, 2022 by ron021950

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1189

“Choke”

but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. – Mark 4:19

‘Encore mort’ (dead again) said the small boy as he presented the lifeless baby chick to his mother. This story is told about my father-in-law when he was a small child in rural Vermont in the early 1900’s. He was fascinated with the baby chickens and would pick them up. As they fluttered and squirmed, he would squeeze tighter to keep control of them, strangling them in the process.

I think about this story whenever I read the Parable of the Sower and how the love of this world and for the things of this world choke the life out of our relationships – first with our spiritual relationship with The Father, and then with our family and other relationships in this life.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. – 1 John 2:15

Satan knows all too well the weakness of our flesh and how to tempt us, capitalizing on our weaknesses.

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. – 1 John 2:16

The pride of life encompasses all that is of this world. It is linked with and drives the lust of our flesh and eyes. It makes us arrogant and boastful thinking that we are in control of our destiny and have no need for God or salvation through His Son, Jesus. It makes us selfish and controlling.

How many of us choke the life out of our relationships by trying to control them too tightly? Husbands and wives strangle the life out of their marriage when they attempt to control each other. Parents stifle their children’s spirit and uniqueness as well as their ability to function independently when they attempt to control their lives well into their teen years and beyond.

Managers and leaders can stifle their organization’s creative spirit and stunt the growth of their company or worse yet, kill it by trying to control it tightly. Nations war against nations because of the pride of life and the lust for the things of this world and for power and control as is evidenced by what is happening in Ukraine today.

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. – Proverbs 4:23

May you guard your heart against the deceitfulness of the things of this world.

May the Holy Spirit show you the relationships that you are choking because of your selfish desire to control them. May He direct and empower you to correct and repair these relationships.

May the desires of your heart stem from the love of the Father and not from your love of the world.

Pray for the people and nation of Ukraine that the Lord will go before them to defeat the enemy that seeks to do them harm. Pray that the Lord will comfort, protect, provide, and restore them to Him and as a nation.

Posted in Business as Mission | Tagged interpersonal relationships, The Word of God, Ukraine | Leave a comment

Sword of the Spirit – Shall We Go Up? #1188

Posted on April 3, 2022 by ron021950

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1188

“Shall We Go Up”

David inquired of the Lord… – 2 Samuel 5:23

David sought the Lord’s direction when the Philistines first gathered for war in the Valley of Rephaim and the Lord blessed Israel and David had a decisive victory.

The Philistines came against him a second time in the same valley and David again asked God if he should go up and fight them. This time the Lord told him ‘No’ and to wait until the Lord had gone before him to strike down the enemy. Once again, God gave David a great victory over the Philistines.

…He said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear and come against them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” – 2 Samuel 5:23-24

It would have been easy for David to place his confidence in the fact of his first victory and to impulsively confront the Philistines a second time without first seeking the Lord’s direction. Instead, David did not lean on his own understanding but continually came to the Lord in prayer for direction.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6

When we experience success in our life pursuits, we are in danger of beginning to rely on our abilities and skills and fail to acknowledge God as the author of our success. This is a recipe for pridefulness, and it will ultimately result in sure failure.

And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today – Deuteronomy 8:10-11

The word translated “forget” from the original Hebrew text in this passage carries the meaning to abandon, ignore, or neglect. It means to stop remembering. If you reflect on your life walk with the Lord, do you notice that the times when you were more fervently in prayer were the times when you were in the greatest trials and difficulties? Spurgeon describes it this way:

The Christian far oftener disgraces his profession in prosperity than in adversity. It is a dangerous thing to be prosperous. The crucible of adversity is a less severe trial to the Christian than the refining-pot of prosperity. – Charles Spurgeon

May you maintain your fervor and passion for the Lord always – in prosperity as well as in difficult times. May your heart not become lukewarm or cold.

…So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. – Revelation 3:15-17

May you guard your heart against the success and prosperity of this world.

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! – 1 Chronicles 16:11

Posted in Business as Mission | Tagged Neglecting God, prosperity | Leave a comment

Sword of the Spirit – He Goes Before Me #1187

Posted on March 27, 2022 by ron021950

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1187

“He Goes Before Me”

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. – Deuteronomy 31:8

What lies ahead of you? Are you on the cusp of a transition in your life? Retirement? Graduation? Starting a new job or career change?

You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. – Psalm 139:5 (NLT)

Perhaps you are about to undergo major surgery or chemotherapy and you are unsure of what lies ahead of you?

The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you – Deuteronomy 1:30

During a recent church service, Jason Upton ministered in testimony and song. In the preface to his testimony, Jason talks about how we are taught that God is omnipresent, and that He is the God of the past, present and future.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” – Revelation 1:8

He then makes a statement that God is present in our future where we are not yet present ourselves. That struck a chord in my spirit as I had always conceptualized God’s omnipresence as being present everywhere in the ‘now’. I had not truly considered the fact that He is beyond our time construct. God is eternal and His presence is already in our future—working for our good—where we are not yet present ourselves.

The following is a link to the church service. Jason Upton’s testimony begins at 45 minutes. I encourage you to listen to his song and testimony. It will be a blessing to you.

Exodus | The Call: Losing Yourself | Doug Sauder – YouTube

What mountain or obstacle is ahead of you? Have faith that God is already there making a way for you.

I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron – Isaiah 45:2

Jesus went before us to the cross to pay the price for our sins.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace – Ephesians 1:7

Jesus went before us to the grave and was resurrected and ascended into heaven so that we also through faith in Him may have eternal life.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. – 1 Corinthians 15:20

Jesus has gone before us into heaven. He is preparing a place for us and will return for us.

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. – Hebrews 9:24

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. – John 14:1-3

May you look to the future and what lies ahead of you through eyes of faith, understanding and knowing that your Father has gone before you and is already present where you are not yet present. He is working all things for your good.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

Posted in Business as Mission | Tagged omnipresence of God | Leave a comment

Sword of the Spirit – Palpable Christianity #1186

Posted on March 20, 2022 by ron021950

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1186

“Palpable Christianity”

For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. – Exodus 40:38

The presence of the Lord was palpable to the Israelites during the Exodus. Something is palpable when it is tangible, noticeable and manifest and this was certainly the case with the pillar of cloud and fire.

Moses had a special relationship with the Lord, meeting and speaking with Him on the mountain and in the tent of meeting. The fact that he had been in God’s presence would make his face glow which was tangible evidence to the people that he had been with the Lord.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai…Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God… – Exodus 34:29-35

Later we see how the apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit provided tangible evidence of the presence of God in their lives to those around them.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. – Acts 4:13

What about you and me today? How palpable is our Christianity to the world around us? Do our actions cause others to say, ‘They have been with Jesus’ or do our actions cause them to say ‘Hypocrites!’ because our actions are not in alignment with our stated Christian values and beliefs?

For some who desire to walk a compromised path with one foot in the world and the other in Christianity it is easier for them to ‘hide’ their profession of faith when in the worldly contexts of life. This is not the way that Jesus wants us to be.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:14-16

Walking a compromised path is a snare not only to ourselves but also to others. Jesus was quite blunt and scathing in His statements about being a stumbling block to others. Can you imagine how Peter felt when Jesus told him he was a stumbling block to Him?

But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” – Matthew 16:23

If we do not strive for integrity in our Christian lifestyle, what example are we setting for others, especially for children? Jesus expressed woe to those who cause children to sin.

…whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! – Matthew 18:5-7

We are called to palpable Christianity. As born-again Christians we have the manifest presence of Christ in us. Our faces may not glow, but our lifestyle – our day-to-day actions – speak louder than any words we may preach. For some people we are the only ‘bible’ they may read.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? – 1 Corinthians 6:19

I know that this is a challenging word. It challenged Peter and he overcame the weakness of his flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit. We too can overcome the fleshes desire to compromise with the world by the same Spirit of God.

May you be a palpable Christian. May those you meet through divine encounters and throughout your daily life recognize the presence of Jesus in you and give glory to the Father.

Posted in Business as Mission | Tagged Christian values and beliefs, stumbling block | Leave a comment

Sword of the Spirit – Deny, Live, and Look #1185

Posted on March 16, 2022 by ron021950

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1185

“Deny, Live, and Look”

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ – Titus 2:11-13

What is grace? The classic definition is that grace is the free, unmerited favor of God. The operative words are ‘free’ and ‘unmerited’. Grace does not come from our works. We cannot earn it or be good enough or righteous enough for God to owe it to us. Grace comes to us by faith and even that faith came as a gift to us from God.

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. – Ephesians 4:7; Romans 12:3

Let us examine our reference Scripture.

We are saved by Grace: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people…

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— Ephesians 2:4-5

Grace teaches us to deny our flesh: training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. – Matthew 16:24

Grace teaches us how to live: live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.

Having been saved by grace, we are then justified and sanctified by grace in this life preparing us for eternity with Him.

and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith… – Romans 3:24-25

Grace teaches to wait in anticipation and look forward to Christ’s appearing. It is by God’s Grace that we will be glorified with Him: waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. – 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

May you have a teachable spirit and an obedient heart so that you may learn by the grace of God to deny ungodliness, live a self-controlled life, and look forward to eternity with our Lord, Jesus.

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Sword of the Spirit – Tent Of Meeting #1184

Posted on March 6, 2022 by ron021950

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT 1184

“Tent of Meeting”

And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. – Exodus 25:8

Our Father God desires to have fellowship with us. His love for us is infinite and immeasurable. Under the old covenant, God established a Tent of Meeting where His presence was signified by the pillar of cloud and there He would meet with Moses.

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. – Exodus 33:7-9

Under the new covenant through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the ‘tent of meeting’ is now in us through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. There is no longer an ‘outside of camp’ separation.

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. – John 14:23; 1 John 3:24

The temple curtain was torn in two when Jesus died on the cross for our sins opening the door for intimate fellowship with our Triune God.

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. – Matthew 27:50-51

Do you desire fellowship with God as much as He desires fellowship with you?

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. – James 4:8

Does habitual sin separate you from your tent of meeting with God? Sin will make our hearts grow cold and the guilt we feel works to make us feel distanced from God. Know this: God has not distanced Himself from you. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins once and for all and it is a lie from the enemy of your soul that tells you that you are too far gone to return to Him.

Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. – Joel 2:13

May you know that your tent of meeting with God is within you and that His Holy Spirit dwells in you to guide you and bring fellowship with the Father.

May your daily walk be a walk of continual fellowship, intimacy, and dialog with God in your ‘tent of meeting’ with Him.

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