Life in the Spirit
Many times we as Christians live beyond what richness of life the Spirit of God has endowed us to have.
Just like the Israelites, we could be wandering around in our wilderness when God has so liberally sent his Holy Spirit to lead us into the Promised Land.
We are simply bound under an enslavement mentality that we fail to soar in the freedom that He has freely given.
This doesn’t have to be our story. God in all His riches has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.
Today as I spend time in quiet rest, I want to invite you to journey with me into what life in the Spirit can be for us. I too am learning the power of putting on the armour of God for a successful day today.
What I realise is that we are in a state of spiritual war everyday, and we have to be ready for battle.
Ephesians 6:10-20 talks about how we can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. This is practically done by putting on the armour of God, so that we can stand against the devil’s schemes, which target our hearts and souls every moment of the day.
The Bible says that we are to put on the FULL armour of God, not just part of the armour but every single armour that has been made available for us.
Why? So that when the day of evil comes, we can stand our ground, and having done everything, to continue standing.
I love this picture of us standing. Those who stand after a fearsome fight shows a conquering, victorious spirit.
They show a quality of valour that not many possess. They show a faithfulness, an endurance, a winning spirit that does not make one to give up or give in.
So the first piece of warfare equipment is the belt of truth. With this belt that I am putting on over my loin, I deliberately take off everything else that is not of truth. I take off the spirit of error and deception. I take off the spirit of falsehood and wrong doctrine and I pray that the truth of God will hold me steady every step of my way today.
My second piece of equipment is the breastplate of righteousness. This is the right standing that God has granted me through Christ that deals with the condemnation and guilt i face as i live my imperfect life here on earth. Now I know what I should do with thoughts that accuse me and lies that slap me in the face as a failure. I bring them to God…all my weaknesses, my anger, my imperfections, my failing…and I confess them before God, who is able to purify me from all unrighteousness. I no longer dwell in the realm of being constantly accused as a sinner, but I stand with a righteousness that qualifies me as an overcoming child of God. With this over me, I can walk upright into any situation, knowing that God is for me and will make me a blessing to others, a beaming light that shines, even though i am a still a work in progress.
My third piece of equipment is a feet fitted with the readiness that comes with the gospel of peace. I bless my feet as i get ready for a day of busyness. These feet are meant to bring the gospel of peace wherever I go. I breathe peace into circumstances and situations. My feet are not rushed to do evil. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me wherever I go and the peace of God will encompass every person that I meet. I am dressed for success with an overwhelming peace of God in the midst of a chaotic world.
The fourth piece of my equipment is the shield of faith which extinguishes all flaming arrows of the evil one. I know that as i go through my day today, there will be thoughts and missiles of fear, doubt and unbelief that will attack my faith and rob me of my royal position in the realm of the Spirit. But as I put on my shield of faith, i doubt my doubts and i choose to believe what I am believing about God is true. I choose to believe that He is a God that says He is who He is and He can do what He is able to do. No form of debilitating sicknesses is greater than the power of my God. No circumstances or situation can override the good plan of God for my life.
For the word of God to have a clear channel in my life, and to take full effect, I need to empty my heart of whatever bitterness, unforgiveness, doubt or unbelief so that I can clearly sift the truth of what He has provided into my natural man.
The fifth piece of equipment is the helmet of salvation. This is the mind of Christ and I input the Word of God into my mind. I speak peace over a troubled mind. I speak faith, mountain moving faith over a doubting mind. I speak a prosperous mind over a poverty driven mind. I speak a positive mind over a negative mind in Jesus name.
The sixth piece is the sword of the Spirit. The word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than a double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrows, judging the thoughts and the attitudes of the heart. (Heb 4:12) This “double-edged”ness refers to my mouth combining with God’s mouth, kissing each other to deliver the very word of God into situation and circumstances.
And the last is to pray in the Spirit at all times, in all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests, being alert and keeping praying for all the saints.
May you be dressed successfully for your battle too today!