A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else
does a man need to be happy?
In our last blog Recover the Oil Prayer Collective studied how important it is to hear the voice of God and how not to be led away by the voice of the enemy. This is the year of RELEASE and if we want God to accomplish the supernatural in our lives and if we want to experience the supernatural release of God we have to learn how to do spiritual warfare. DO you think that the enemy wants you to be free from BONDAGE? Do you thing the enemy wants to release you from the yolks, chains, and forces of darkness that he has sent to hinder you from walking in a new level of freedom. As long as you are in this flesh the enemy will do his best to keep you from walking in your purpose and fulfilling your assignments, destiny and God-Visions that God has given you. It is his job to strip you of God's gifts that He has placed in you to complete the assignment of giving God glory in this earth realm and in the heavenly places. We discussed the nature of our enemy and the importance of understanding how the enemy works and how to truly fight the enemy. We concluded that the enemy is:
A. The enemy is a deceiver and distorter of truth. St. John 8:44
B. The enemy is a murderer and a liar.
C. The enemy is a Thief! The enemy is a destroyer.
D. The enemy is deliberate and seeks to devour, consume, eat you up, get rid of you!
E. The enemy is an accuser of the bretheren Revelations 12:10-12
F.The enemy is a ruler of darkness(CONFINEMENT, FEAR, UNBALANCED MINDSET, PRISON, CAPTIVITY, STRONGHOLDS, POWERLESSNESS, FAITHLESSNESS and DEPRESSION AND OPPRESSION) in a spiritual realm in another dimension.
Last month's blog highlighted the fact that it is the enemy's job to fight against your thoughts and to bring arguments to your mind that are contrary to the very word of God. The only way to fight off these arguments, thoughts and fears is to first recognize that your weapons are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. It is only through the power of God that we are able to stand against the enemy. The word of God says in Ephesians 6:10-14
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
The only way to stand against the enemy is to
1 understand the enemy, who he is and what his tactics are.
2. Be Strong in the Lord and the power of His might!
2. Put on the whole armor of God
Last month we discussed the importance of standing by understanding who our enemy is. This month we will take a look at what armor God has given us to use in this battle. One of the most important things to remember in order to fight the enemy is to understand the very important fact that the enemy can only be conquered and beaten by one power and that is by the power of God. Strongholds can only be brought down through the power of God.
Question: How do we as Christians possess the power of God?
Answer: By putting on the whole armor of God. There is one piece of armor that will be discussed this month. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:14 The Belt of truth!
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Acts 12:6-8
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon [him], and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from [his] hands.
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
Here it is in this particular passage of scripture that Peter is in prison and the angel of the lord gives him some instructions. This first was to Arise up quickly. Then some chains fell off of his hands. Then the angel of the Lord said, "Gird Yourself"
The word gird means to strap on or get yourself together. The only way to get out of prison and get fully delivered and fully prepared for your next assignment is to hear the voice of God, obey and put on the proper dressing. Peter was doubly guarded and with out the proper garments necessary to be seen in public. In the bible nakedness is equated with having a lack of light, luster, or glory. If one is naked, one cannot fight. If one does not have the proper clothing to wear in battle one can not fight. Sin is nakedness. It means to be bare or empty from being covered by God.
When we turn away from God and choose to do our own things and live life our own way we become naked. The fruits of the spirit are called fruit because it is the character of God that dresses God's saint. A tree is barren when it does not bear the fruit of the one who planted it's seed. The seed of God should look like His image and when we run away from God and take on the character or seed of satan we no longer look like a beautiful fruit tree full of fruit, but our demeanor and way of living becomes a picture of a barren tree. The fruits of the spirit can only adorn the saints when they put on the armor of God to fight off the tactics of the enemy.
Take a look at what it means to gird oneself based on the word of God. In the book of Acts and Ephesians the word gird means to:
The enemy is a liar and it is his nature to twist the truth. If one does not understand what the truth is, then one can not see what is real or reality. One can not live illuminated or enlightened lives with out the truth. The truth of Gods word is stated in St John 14:6
Jesus said unto him, I am the way the truth and the life. No man comes to me but, by the father.
What is truth?
Jesus is truth
Who said that? Jesus. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. Everything that Jesus said and everything that Jesus is; his character and everything that he did is the way to live. What is the character of Jesus? Everything that Jesus has shown us in how he lived his life is how we should strive to operate. What were Jesus' responses to the enemy? How did he respond to the word of God? How did he respond to the attacks of the enemy? This is who Jesus is. This is what truth is and this truth is what enables us to stay ready, dressed and prepared for battle. It is this truth that awakens us and enables us be fully prepared for battle. Jesus is the truth, the rock, foundation and is the enlightenment that breaks the shackles of darkness off of us. It is the seed or word that causes the supernatural transformation that changes our way of thinking, seeing and doing. Truth changes our perception and gives us a real view of who we are in the kingdom of God and in this world and the world to come.
Jesus is humble 2 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them
Jesus used the word to respond to the enemy :
Jesus comes to resurrect-
Jesus resurrects the widows son at Nain Luke 7:13-14
Jesus resurrects Lazarus from the dead St. John 11:43-44
Many saints resurrected at Jesus' resurrection Matthew 27:52-53
There are countless records in the bible of Jesus as a restorer, healer, payer of debts, pardon of sins, deliverer, intercessor, chastiser, teacher, unconditional giver of love and compassion. Jesus is the chief Shepherd and a chief shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He is listed as the chief Apostle and Prophet. Jesus was a holder of all the gifts of the five-fold ministry callings. Jesus was a compassionate winner of souls. The fruit of his ministry has reaped a great harvest of millions. Jesus was and is truly the TRUTH!
Jesus is the word and when we speak and live the words that He lived we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. The word of God is truth. St John 1
2 Timothy 3:15-17 reads
and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
New Living Translation
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16
The word of God is truth. Every word that
proceeds out of the mouth of God is truth.
God's word is true and if we tie his word
around our spiritual wastes it will help keep
the rest of God's armor in place. God's truth
knocks down every lie the enemy presents to
you.
The bible says to gird up the loins of our minds
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 1 Peter 1:13
In the passage of scripture Peter encourages Christians on how to gird up the loins of their minds.
"The term "gird one's loins" was used in the Roman Era meaning to pull up and tie one's lower garments between one's legs to increase one's mobility in battle. In the modern age, it has become an idiom meaning to prepare oneself for the worst"
The word loins is used to reference the sexual organs of the human body. The phrase the "fruit of your womb" is used to refer to the posterity, seed or children of some one.
When looking at the following references I believe Peter was encouraging the saints to get their minds in the right frame of mind to engage in spiritual warfare and to live as Christians.
Peter's goal was to instruct the Christians about how to guard the fruit or seed of their minds. What is sown in the mind, is what tends to come out of our mouths and our actions.
Peter tells the Christians that the only way to guard the
seeds of the word of God from being plucked from their minds is to be alert, sober minded, and setting ones hope on the reward of God's deliverance from eternal torment and darkness.
The only way to gird up the loins of our minds is to be well-balanced in our thoughts. This happens through ingesting and downloading the word of truth. This happens by remembering why we are here, who we are working for and what he has promised us.
18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” 13:18-23
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
The only way to stand against the enemy is to
1 understand the enemy, who he is and what his tactics are.
2. Be Strong in the Lord and the power of His might!
2. Put on the whole armor of God
Last month we discussed the importance of standing by understanding who our enemy is. This month we will take a look at what armor God has given us to use in this battle. One of the most important things to remember in order to fight the enemy is to understand the very important fact that the enemy can only be conquered and beaten by one power and that is by the power of God. Strongholds can only be brought down through the power of God.
Question: How do we as Christians possess the power of God?
Answer: By putting on the whole armor of God. There is one piece of armor that will be discussed this month. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:14 The Belt of truth!
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Acts 12:6-8
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon [him], and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from [his] hands.
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
Here it is in this particular passage of scripture that Peter is in prison and the angel of the lord gives him some instructions. This first was to Arise up quickly. Then some chains fell off of his hands. Then the angel of the Lord said, "Gird Yourself"
The word gird means to strap on or get yourself together. The only way to get out of prison and get fully delivered and fully prepared for your next assignment is to hear the voice of God, obey and put on the proper dressing. Peter was doubly guarded and with out the proper garments necessary to be seen in public. In the bible nakedness is equated with having a lack of light, luster, or glory. If one is naked, one cannot fight. If one does not have the proper clothing to wear in battle one can not fight. Sin is nakedness. It means to be bare or empty from being covered by God.
When we turn away from God and choose to do our own things and live life our own way we become naked. The fruits of the spirit are called fruit because it is the character of God that dresses God's saint. A tree is barren when it does not bear the fruit of the one who planted it's seed. The seed of God should look like His image and when we run away from God and take on the character or seed of satan we no longer look like a beautiful fruit tree full of fruit, but our demeanor and way of living becomes a picture of a barren tree. The fruits of the spirit can only adorn the saints when they put on the armor of God to fight off the tactics of the enemy.
Take a look at what it means to gird oneself based on the word of God. In the book of Acts and Ephesians the word gird means to:
- to fasten garments with a girdle or belt
- to gird one's self
- metaph. with truth as a girdle
- to equip one's self with knowledge of the truth
During the time that these events occurred the belt is what kept every thing in tact. If a soldier did not wear a belt then he was unable to keep the rest of his armor on. The belt of truth for the Christian is the belt of what is real or what we consider natural and spiritual reality.
The word truth in the Webster's dictionary means:
the real facts about something : the things that are
true
the real facts about something : the things that are
true
the body of real things, events, and facts :
sincerity in action, character, and utterance
The enemy is a liar and it is his nature to twist the truth. If one does not understand what the truth is, then one can not see what is real or reality. One can not live illuminated or enlightened lives with out the truth. The truth of Gods word is stated in St John 14:6
Jesus said unto him, I am the way the truth and the life. No man comes to me but, by the father.
What is truth?
Jesus is truth
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed[d] in heaven.”
The truth is that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus gave the disciples the power to bind and loose; the power to command doors to open and shut. He also has given believers today that power!
7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
The truth is Jesus came to give us life and it more abundantly. The enemy steals, but Jesus Gives Freely.
Who said that? Jesus. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. Everything that Jesus said and everything that Jesus is; his character and everything that he did is the way to live. What is the character of Jesus? Everything that Jesus has shown us in how he lived his life is how we should strive to operate. What were Jesus' responses to the enemy? How did he respond to the word of God? How did he respond to the attacks of the enemy? This is who Jesus is. This is what truth is and this truth is what enables us to stay ready, dressed and prepared for battle. It is this truth that awakens us and enables us be fully prepared for battle. Jesus is the truth, the rock, foundation and is the enlightenment that breaks the shackles of darkness off of us. It is the seed or word that causes the supernatural transformation that changes our way of thinking, seeing and doing. Truth changes our perception and gives us a real view of who we are in the kingdom of God and in this world and the world to come.
Jesus is humble 2 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them
Jesus used the word to respond to the enemy :
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”[a]
5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:
‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’
and,
7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt theLord your God.’”[c]
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you,[d] Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”[e]
11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Jesus comes to resurrect-
Jesus resurrects the widows son at Nain Luke 7:13-14
Jesus resurrects Lazarus from the dead St. John 11:43-44
Many saints resurrected at Jesus' resurrection Matthew 27:52-53
There are countless records in the bible of Jesus as a restorer, healer, payer of debts, pardon of sins, deliverer, intercessor, chastiser, teacher, unconditional giver of love and compassion. Jesus is the chief Shepherd and a chief shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He is listed as the chief Apostle and Prophet. Jesus was a holder of all the gifts of the five-fold ministry callings. Jesus was a compassionate winner of souls. The fruit of his ministry has reaped a great harvest of millions. Jesus was and is truly the TRUTH!
Jesus is the word and when we speak and live the words that He lived we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. The word of God is truth. St John 1
2 Timothy 3:15-17 reads
and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
New Living Translation
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16
The word of God is truth. Every word that
proceeds out of the mouth of God is truth.
God's word is true and if we tie his word
around our spiritual wastes it will help keep
the rest of God's armor in place. God's truth
knocks down every lie the enemy presents to
you.
The bible says to gird up the loins of our minds
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 1 Peter 1:13
In the passage of scripture Peter encourages Christians on how to gird up the loins of their minds.
"The term "gird one's loins" was used in the Roman Era meaning to pull up and tie one's lower garments between one's legs to increase one's mobility in battle. In the modern age, it has become an idiom meaning to prepare oneself for the worst"
The word loins is used to reference the sexual organs of the human body. The phrase the "fruit of your womb" is used to refer to the posterity, seed or children of some one.
When looking at the following references I believe Peter was encouraging the saints to get their minds in the right frame of mind to engage in spiritual warfare and to live as Christians.
Peter's goal was to instruct the Christians about how to guard the fruit or seed of their minds. What is sown in the mind, is what tends to come out of our mouths and our actions.
Peter tells the Christians that the only way to guard the
seeds of the word of God from being plucked from their minds is to be alert, sober minded, and setting ones hope on the reward of God's deliverance from eternal torment and darkness.
The only way to gird up the loins of our minds is to be well-balanced in our thoughts. This happens through ingesting and downloading the word of truth. This happens by remembering why we are here, who we are working for and what he has promised us.
18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” 13:18-23
Those who have a sincere heart who have embraced the truth will bring forth fruit.(TRUTH)
The True Vine
15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;[a] and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[b] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
In order to truly gird up the loins of our minds and protect the seed or word that God has placed in us is by abiding in Him. If we abide in Him and in HIS TRUTH we will bear the fruit of God's Character the fruits of the Spirit. We will look like him and be dressed with his fruit and truth!
The Spirit of God is truth!
15 “If you love Me, keep[d] My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Jesus died so that we could have access to God's spirit so that we could fight this flesh, have his character and image. Jesus died so that mankind could be fully restored back to complete oneness with Him and God. Jesus accomplished this by giving His life so that we could have life on earth through God's Spirit who empowers us to make the best choices that will be pleasing to God; which is to obey His words(TRUTH) and be an example of who He is in a dark world! God wants us to be the truth in a world of lies!
A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his
deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who
sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who
plants kindness gathers love.
May your Day Be Filled with the Love of Christ!
Be Blessed!
RecovertheOIL Prayer Collective
